Riding the wind of rebirth

"Uh..." Zhou Zhi didn't expect Mai Xiaomiao to interpret it this way. He was stunned. He wanted to explain but felt that he was too materialistic and it might affect his image.

Yes, accepting gifts without refusing them is mercenary, including accepting calligraphy and paintings! Stealing books is stealing!
Forget it, no more explanation.

Seeing Zhou Zhi, Mr. Wang couldn't help but laugh and said, "Elbow, I just can't understand, you went to Daliang Mountain, how can you still find such a good treasure? And it's a Ming painting?! Who is this girl?"

"This is Mai Xiaomiao, the person in charge of the Neural Network System Laboratory of our Clover Group. This time he came to the Ministry to report on the progress of our laboratory's project. He happened to find the statue of Lady Shexiang in Bimo Cave, so he brought it with him."

"How old is Xiao Miao? You are so amazing at such a young age. Come in, come in." Old Yuan also came out with a brush in his hand: "What a coincidence! I am painting Tao Yao."

The peach tree is young and tender, its flowers are bright and beautiful, the girl is getting married, and she is suitable for her family. This is teasing Zhou Zhi to take the little girl home.

"Xiao Miao grew up in the United States, she doesn't understand what you are saying, Mr. Yuan." Zhou Zhi smiled and said, "Both elders are in good health. Xiao Miao, this is Mr. Wang, and this is his wife, Ms. Yuan. They are famous calligraphers, painters, scholars, and collectors in our country."

"Little girl, don't listen to Elbow's nonsense." Old Master Wang waved his hand and said, "I am just an old loser who has been obsessed with playing with things since childhood."

"This person is extraordinary, a true calligrapher." Mr. Wang waved his hand at Mr. Qi who also walked out of the door: "I am discriminated against in front of him."

"This is the president of my country's Calligraphers Association, Mr. Qi. He is also a scholar and collector," Zhou Zhi introduced.

"Come in, come in." Yuan Lao said, "The capital is very cold in winter, and it's warm and spacious here, so we moved here. We can talk and laugh together, discuss and exchange ideas, and we don't feel lonely anymore."

"Hello, Grandpa Wang, Grandma Yuan, and Grandpa Qi." Mai Xiaomiao greeted the elderly people with a smile.

Old Master Wang explained to Zhou Zhishang in front of Mai Xiaomiao: "This place was bought by Elbow, and now it has become his private collection. We all covet the exhibits here. That's why we live here, just to be able to appreciate the good stuff every day."

"The collections here are the result of the lifelong efforts of several elderly people." Zhou Zhi quickly explained to Mai Xiaomiao: "They are grateful for their appreciation and now they have given it to me to preserve. Grandpa Wang is being modest when he says this, but we can't think so."

Mr. Yuan winked at Mr. Wang, meaning that this girl was different and that it was "us" who had to do the elbowing.

"Have you eaten?" asked Mr. Wang.

"Not yet." Zhou Zhi pretended to be pitiful and said, "I asked the experts in Fengtai... They left us food, but we still fled!"

"Then I'll make you some noodles with soybean paste!" said Mr. Wang.

"Oh! That's great!" Zhou Zhi said with a smile, "We can't even eat this in Shu!"

When he walked into Demian Hall, Mai Xiaomiao was immediately stunned by the dazzling array of displays there.

Good things speak for themselves and there is no need for explanation. The exquisite porcelain and bronze ware in the special glass cabinets embedded in the walls, the various furniture on display, the hanging guqin, the copper stove, the pen holder on the table, the tables intricately inlaid with precious wood, the huanghuali mother-of-pearl screens, etc., all demonstrate the timeless and profound style of this place.

This was even before Mai Xiaomiao could understand the calligraphy and paintings on the wall. She felt that the porcelain plate paintings of the Eight Friends of Zhushan on the wall were amazing. The tabletop of the large rosewood painting table was made of boxwood and rosewood inlaid with a swastika pattern. Not only was the splicing complicated, but the surrounding legs were also exquisitely carved. This was a masterpiece completed by the Imperial Household Department during the Qianlong period at all costs, and it is also the only one in the world so far.

This was also a favorite of Emperor Qianlong. This painting desk can be seen in many court paintings with Qianlong as the protagonist. Qianlong also issued an imperial decree that the Imperial Household Department should not do such things in the future because of its excessive wastefulness. Therefore, although it is a unique piece, its origin can be proven.

This is one of the several important pieces of Ming and Qing furniture that the old man transferred to Zhou Zhi. It is also the pinnacle of court furniture in the mid-Qing Dynasty. It is indispensable in the history of Ming and Qing furniture in China. It is not an exaggeration to call it a national treasure.

Zhou Zhi pulled the painting bag out of the tube, placed it on the drawing table and gently unfolded it.

Mr. Qi and Mr. Yuan both came over to the drawing table and examined it carefully.

To use the term in the industry, this thing is called "big opening". From an identification perspective, it is much easier to identify than the paintings of the Four Masters of the Six Dynasties brought back by Zhou Zhi.

Until now, the cultural heritage community is still discussing the authenticity of "Emperor Wu of Han Shooting the Dragon". Even though Zhou Zhi cited two pieces of evidence, namely the Tongtian crown and the arm of Emperor Wu of Han in the painting, to prove that the specification of this painting was far earlier than the Song Dynasty and was copied by famous Song Dynasty artists before that, people are still arguing about whether it is a copy of Zhang Sengyou's authentic work.

The current conclusion is still that the original work of "Han Wu Shooting a Dragon" belongs to the same era as Zhang Sengyou. Judging from the painter's exquisite brushwork, he should be a court painter of the Song Dynasty. Such a painter's careful copying could never be anything other than the paintings of famous artists of the previous dynasty. Combined with the inscriptions and several unique features of the painting, this painting should be the most likely original work of Zhang Sengyou discovered so far.

Another point is that even if the original work was not written by Zhang Sengyou himself, his painting level has reached the level of the masters of the Six Dynasties.

If we want to be rigorous, this is the only conclusion we can draw.

There is no such problem with this painting now. It is an original product and has not been changed since it was mounted. Whether it is the scroll, the painting bag, or the silk, satin, or brocade used for mounting, they are all in accordance with the regulations and materials of the early Ming Dynasty.

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

In some ways, the importance of this painting is even greater than the "Portraits of Ming Dynasty Emperors" collected by the Palace Museum today, because that set of paintings was remounted in the Qing Dynasty, resulting in the loss of a lot of "original information".

"How was this painting preserved so well?" Mr. Yuan couldn't help but sigh.

"Yes, although it has been used a lot, it has remained intact until now. This should be the most original Ming Dynasty palace painting currently preserved."

Zhou Zhi also nodded silently in agreement. Only Mai Xiaomiao was confused. How could a painting that was blackened by smoke and fire except for the top be "well preserved"?

"I guess it's very likely because the main character of the painting is a woman." Zhou Zhi said, "After Madam Shexiang brought this painting back to the Shuixi Xuanwei Office, it was probably kept carefully and treasured for a long time and never shown to anyone."

In ancient times, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the concealment of the image of female family members reached its peak, and this was probably even more so for a great woman of such a respected status as Lady Shexiang.

Although Lady She Xiang was originally from a minority ethnic group, she sent her son An to the capital to study under famous teachers since he was a child, and even changed his name to a Han name, so it was natural for him to learn Han customs.

"However, in the 1,400 to 1,500 years of history, the An family has experienced many internal conflicts, rebellions, and the suppression by Wu Sangui. Even the ancestral temple has been burned down several times. It is a blessing that this painting and more than 2,000 Yi books can be collected by Mr. Ma."

"Yes." Yuan Lao nodded. "It is also possible that the local Bimo hid the painting in the Niangniang Temple a long time ago. Few people know about that place, and the ethnic minority compatriots certainly don't know the value of this painting in the Han area. They just worship it as an ancestor, with only the intention of worship, not coveting it." (End of this chapter)