Orchids and Lingzhi Fungus in Circular Fan Shape -- Illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting (Shizhuzhai shuhua pu) before 1703

Curator: Here we have "Orchids and Lingzhi Fungus in Circular Fan Shape," an illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, created by Hu Zhengyan, who lived from 1584 to 1634. Editor: It feels delicate, doesn't it? Like a whisper of spring. The orchids, so subtly colored, against that pale, aged paper… it’s like finding a secret garden. Curator: The Manual, a collaboration of artists and printers, was highly influential. It democratized access to art by providing models for aspiring painters and calligraphers. Editor: I love how the composition is both balanced and asymmetrical. The empty space really lets the details of the orchids and lingzhi breathe. Curator: The image, even in its simplicity, embodies classical Chinese ideals of harmony, refinement, and the appreciation of nature. Editor: It's funny how a small thing like this can hold so much peace. I could stare at it for hours and feel my own roots growing deeper.