In the manner of Zhao Zi-ang’s cliffhanging orchids 臨趙子昻懸崖蘭

The Ten Bamboo Studio was named for the bamboo that grew around the Nanjing residence of publisher Hu Zhengyan. Unlike other practical guides on how to paint, the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual, successfully printed in color, was more of a visual guide to appreciating calligraphy and painting. The section shown here is from the “Orchid” volume. It includes single-line notes on the painting of leaves and blossoms, paired with model examples by famous painters. Handwritten numbers on the pages were added later to keep them in order when the volumes were remounted.