Ma Yuanshui Atlas

[The Water Map of Ma Yuan]

The Water Map volume, Southern Song Dynasty, Ma Yuan’s painting, silk version, light color, a total of 12 sections, each 26.8 cm long and 41.6 cm horizontal
The Water Map has 12 sections. Except for the first section, which is incomplete and has no title, the other titles are: “The wind in Dongting is thin”, “the waves in layers”, “the cold pond is shallow”, “the Yangtze River is vast”, “the Yellow River is against the current”, “the echo of the autumn water”, “the clouds grow in the sea”, “the lake is full of water”, “the clouds spread in the waves”, “the mountains are baked at dawn”, and “the waves drift”. These twelve pieces of works are dedicated to painting water. Except for a few rock banks, there is no other scenery. They show different artistic conception through the description of different postures of water. The author’s meticulous observation of water, as well as the beauty of form and the skills of writing and ink, are amazing. Such as “the wind in Dongting is thin”, the waves are like scales, not irritating and not angry, and the distance is so small that the water and the sky are the same. It seems that the breeze is blowing gently across the open lake, which makes people feel relaxed and happy, and forget about it. “Wave upon wave” describes the rise and fall of waves in a trembling way, as if there were dragons dormant under them. The surging momentum makes people feel energetic and heroic. The picture of “lake light glittering” is painted by the painter with a light and smooth brush technique. The jumping of water waves and irregular arrangement of wave peaks are obviously affected by the wind. Even if the painter does not dye red, it makes the viewer feel sunny, and can not help but think of the scene of Hangzhou West Lake, which is “the preference of lake light glittering”. The picture of “cloud and wave” is another realm. The painter drew a wave with the astringent brush strokes, which seemed to be roaring to rise in the air. The black clouds in the sky rolled and connected with the water, which increased the spirit of being like a front. Although the picture is small, it is magnificent and magnificent. Each of the other paintings has its own characteristics and artistic conception, which will be left for the readers to experience.