Wang Hui’s Masterpieces: “Thatched Cottage by Cloudy Stream” and “Snow on Wu Mountains”
王翬傑作：《雲溪草堂圖》與《吳山積雪圖》賞析
Prologue: The Master of Qing Dynasty Landscape Painting
序言：清代山水畫大師
Wang Hui (王翬, 1632-1717), courtesy name Shigu (石谷), was one of the “Four Wangs” representing the Orthodox School of Chinese landscape painting during the early Qing Dynasty. Renowned for his exceptional ability to synthesize various ancient styles while maintaining his own artistic voice, Wang Hui created works that continue to captivate viewers centuries later.
王翬（1632-1717年），字石谷，清初「四王」之一，代表中國山水畫的正統派。以其非凡的融合各種古代風格並保持自身藝術特色的能力而聞名，王翬的作品在數世紀後依然吸引著觀賞者。
I. “Thatched Cottage by Cloudy Stream” (雲溪草堂圖)
一、《雲溪草堂圖》
Artistic Context and Creation
藝術背景與創作
Wang Hui’s “Thatched Cottage by Cloudy Stream” was created for his patron Xu Yongxuan, depicting Xu’s retreat estate of the same name. Painted when Wang was sixty-eight years old, this work showcases his mastery of the blue-green (青綠 – qīng lǜ) landscape technique and exquisite brushwork.
王翬的《雲溪草堂圖》是為其贊助人徐永宣所作，描繪了徐氏的同名隱居別業。此畫作於王翬六十八歲時，展現了他對青綠山水技法的精湛掌握和細膩的筆觸。
Technical Specifications and Features
技術規格與特點
- Dimensions: 39.6 cm (height) × 278 cm (length)
- 尺寸： 高39.6公分 × 長278公分
- Medium: Ink and color on paper
- 媒介： 紙本設色
- Current Location: National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
- 現藏地： 臺北國立故宮博物院
- Style Characteristics: This handscroll exemplifies the refined blue-green style, characterized by mineral-based malachite (石綠 – shí lǜ) and azurite (石青 – shí qīng) pigments. Wang’s delicate brushstrokes define intricate foliage, architectural details, and distant mountain contours, creating a harmonious balance between natural grandeur and human habitation.
- 風格特點： 此手卷是精緻青綠風格的典範，特點是使用礦物為基礎的石綠和石青顏料。王翬細膩的筆觸勾勒出繁複的草木、建築細節和遠山輪廓，在自然壯麗與人居之間創造了和諧的平衡。
Significance: The painting represents the ideal of scholarly retreat during the Qing Dynasty, where intellectuals sought harmony with nature away from bureaucratic life. It reflects Wang Hui’s mature style, combining technical precision with poetic sensibility.
意義： 這幅畫代表了清代文人隱居的理想，知識分子在遠離官場的生活中尋求與自然的和諧。它反映了王翬成熟的風格，將技術精確性與詩意感性相結合。
II. “Snow on Wu Mountains” (吳山積雪圖)
二、《吳山積雪圖》
Historical Background and Inspiration
歷史背景與靈感
Created in 1705 when Wang Hui was seventy-three years old and at the peak of his artistic powers, “Snow on Wu Mountains” is a renowned masterpiece of Qing landscape painting. The work was inspired by poems sent by Wang’s friend, Master Qingcun (possibly Guan Lun [管棆]), who had written “Long Song in the Snow” and “Poem Expressing My Feelings upon Going to the Capital” from Zhending. Upon receiving these literary works, Wang Hui translated their poetic essence into this visual masterpiece.
《吳山積雪圖》創作於1705年，當時王翬七十三歲，正處於藝術生涯的巔峰時期，是清代著名的山水畫傑作。這幅作品的靈感來自王翬的朋友青村先生（可能是管棆）寄來的詩作，對方從真定寄來了《雪中長歌》和《赴都述懷詩》。收到這些詩作後，王翬將其詩意精髓轉化為了這幅視覺傑作。
Technical Mastery and Composition
技術成就與構圖
- Dimensions: 36 cm (height) × 675 cm (total length), with the painting itself measuring 290 cm
- 尺寸： 高36公分 × 總長675公分，畫心部分長290公分
- Medium: Ink and color on silk
- 媒介： 絹本設色
- Artistic Techniques: The handscroll masterfully employs the “Three Distances” (三遠 – sān yuǎn) of Chinese landscape composition:
- Pingyuan (平遠): Level distance – creating vast, horizontal vistas
- Kuoyuan (闊遠): Expansive distance – conveying breadth and openness
- Gaoyuan (高遠): High distance – suggesting towering heights
- 藝術技巧： 這幅手卷巧妙地運用了中國山水畫構圖的「三遠法」：
- 平遠： 平緩的遠景——創造廣闊的水平視野
- 闊遠： 開闊的遠景——傳達廣度與開放感
- 高遠： 高聳的遠景——暗示巍峨的高度
Visual Narrative: The painting depicts the Wu Mountains (around Suzhou) blanketed in snow, with rolling ridges, dramatic cliffs, meandering forests and streams, and snow-laden trees. This composition demonstrates Wang Hui’s profound skill in capturing both the grandeur and subtlety of nature under winter’s transformation.
視覺敘事： 畫中描繪了被白雪覆蓋的吳山（蘇州一帶），山巒起伏，峭壁崢嶸，林泉蜿蜒，雪影披樹。此構圖展現了王翬在捕捉冬日變幻下自然之雄偉與精妙方面的深厚功力。
III. Comparative Analysis: Two Masterworks
三、比較分析：兩大傑作
| Aspect 方面 | “Thatched Cottage by Cloudy Stream” 《雲溪草堂圖》 | “Snow on Wu Mountains” 《吳山積雪圖》 |
|---|---|---|
| Creation Year 創作年份 | 1700 (Age 68) 1700年（68歲） | 1705 (Age 73) 1705年（73歲） |
| Dimensions 尺寸 | 39.6 × 278 cm | 36 × 675 cm (Painting: 290 cm) 36 × 675公分（畫心290公分） |
| Medium 媒介 | Paper 紙本 | Silk 絹本 |
| Color Scheme 色彩運用 | Blue-green mineral pigments 青綠礦物顏料 | Winter tones with ink wash 水墨冬景色調 |
| Primary Inspiration 主要靈感 | Patron’s retreat 贊助人的隱居之所 | Friend’s poetry 友人的詩作 |
| Composition Focus 構圖重點 | Harmony between architecture and nature 建築與自然的和諧 | Dramatic winter landscape 壯麗的冬景 |
| Current Collection 現藏地 | National Palace Museum, Taipei 臺北故宮博物院 | Not specified in source 原文未明確說明 |
IV. Artistic Legacy and Appreciation Tips
四、藝術遺產與鑑賞要點
Wang Hui’s Enduring Influence
王翬的深遠影響
Wang Hui’s works represent the culmination of traditional Chinese landscape painting techniques while demonstrating individual creativity. His ability to evoke season-specific atmospheres—lush summer greenery in “Thatched Cottage” and serene winter silence in “Snowy Mountains”—shows his deep understanding of nature’s rhythms.
王翬的作品代表了中國傳統山水畫技法的頂峰，同時展現了個人創造力。他喚起特定季節氛圍的能力——《雲溪草堂圖》中蒼翠的夏日和《吳山積雪圖》中寧靜的冬寂——顯示了他對自然韻律的深刻理解。
Viewing Tips for Modern Audiences:
給現代觀賞者的建議：
- Observe the Brushwork (觀筆法): Notice how Wang uses different brushstrokes for textures—fine lines for trees, broader strokes for mountains.
觀筆法： 注意王翬如何運用不同的筆觸表現質感——細線畫樹，闊筆畫山。 - Appreciate the Spatial Composition (賞構圖): Follow how the “Three Distances” create depth and guide your eye through the landscape.
賞構圖： 觀察「三遠法」如何創造深度並引導你的視線遊歷山水。 - Understand the Cultural Context (解文化): Recognize these paintings as expressions of scholarly ideals and philosophical concepts about humanity’s place in nature.
解文化： 理解這些畫作是文人理想以及關於人與自然關係的哲學概念的表現。 - Consider the Poetic Connection (品詩意): Especially for “Snowy Mountains,” appreciate how visual art translates literary inspiration.
品詩意： 特別是對於《吳山積雪圖》，要欣賞視覺藝術如何轉化文學靈感。
Conclusion: The Timeless Appeal of Wang Hui’s Landscapes
結語：王翬山水畫的永恆魅力
Both “Thatched Cottage by Cloudy Stream” and “Snow on Wu Mountains” stand as testaments to Wang Hui’s extraordinary talent and the rich cultural tradition of Chinese landscape painting. They offer viewers not just visual beauty but also glimpses into the philosophical and literary world of Qing Dynasty scholars. For collectors and enthusiasts of Eastern art, these works represent pinnacle achievements worthy of deep study and appreciation.
《雲溪草堂圖》與《吳山積雪圖》同為王翬非凡才華和中國山水畫豐富文化傳統的證明。它們不僅為觀賞者提供了視覺之美，更讓人一窺清代文人的哲學與文學世界。對於東方藝術的收藏家和愛好者而言，這些作品代表了值得深入研究和欣賞的巔峰成就。
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