Zou Zhilin (ca. 1606-1651)

1. signed Yilin, with one seal, chen hu
2. signed chen Hu, with one seal, zou zhi lin yin
3. signed Laoren Lin, with one seal, chen hu
4. dated jimao, the seventh day of the seventh lunar month (August 5, 1639), with one seal, chen hu
5. signed Lin, with one seal, chen hu
6. with one seal, chen hu
7. signed Yinin di Zhilin, with one seal, chen hu
8. dated jiawu (1654), autumn, with one seal, chen hu
9. signed Yilin, with one seal, chen hu
10. signed Zhilin, dated yichou (1625), with one seal, chen hu
titlepage by Wu Zhiying (1867-1933), signed Wu Zhiying, with two seals, wu zhi ying yin, xiao wan liu tang, and one other collector's seal, chu zhen guo yan

This Single Feather of Auspicious Light: Old Chinese Painting and Calligraphy. Vol. 2, London: Sydney L. Moss. Ltd., 2010, #27

-overall in very good condition -minor wear and spots of paper loss due to age -minor foxing spots, vertical creases from previous mounting as a folding fan
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

1. Submitting my name to the village registry,
I bid the world farewell to become a recluse.
Behind a mountain, I built a hut surrounded by bamboos;
Facing a river, I am filled with myriad thoughts.
I mix with the boorish elders at sutra readings,
And burn my children’s civil examination books.
I retire at sunset and rise at dawn,
And at my leisure nap dreamless and unburdened.
The first of twelve poems on Mountain Dwelling, for the Elder Poet. Yilin.

2. Imitating the Elder Mi for Master Maohong, Hu the servant.

3. Once a year we celebrate the meeting of Zhinü and Niulang:
What destiny breaks their separation in Heaven?
At opposite corners, they seem distant to each other,
But tonight as they gather their feelings grow.
Thunder accompanies rain, rattling me in my dream;
The early-morning air greets me with a mild chill.
With the full moon shining over where I go,
I need not fretfully turn my boat around in the mist.
On the Qixi Festival in the xinmao year (1651), Master Maohong deigned to pass by my studio. He wanted to bring the verses we composed back to Madam, and so ordered me to write it down. Lin the old man.

4. Where to escape? I suspect nowhere but deep mountains or dense forests. Where are deep mountains and dense forests? Beneath my brush. Yunxian asked me to send Maohong a gift, and so I made this modest piece for a laugh. On the Qixi Festival of the jimao year (1639).

5. Accompanying my friend to send him off,
I rest my oar to set our boat adrift.
The sky is suffused with rain,
Side by side on our beds we converse happily through the night.
Tonight we relax at the Cloud Pavilion,
Just as we did yesteryear on Huangzi Ridge.
A painting cannot fully capture our friendship,
The essence of which we can convey without looking at each other.
When I was sending Wendou off, we passed by Elder Maohong’s villa and stayed there. Viewing his collection of paintings and calligraphies, I presented Huangzi Ridge for his correction. Lin.

6. Painted on my boat for respected elder Luzhou.

7. Master Hua, much given to leisurely pursuits,
Visits the lakes in the fifth month.
That being the time to escape the summer heat.
Why not stay for a while?
Of the seventy-two singular peaks,
How many have you visited?
One Piaomiao and Moli Mountains,
You may reunite with the bright moon.
Lake Juqu is majestically immense;
Lake Xizi is magically small.
Having entered the reception hall but not the private quarters,
You have yet to complete your journey.
Having heard that respected elder Maohong visited the two Dongtings but did not reach Lake Sheng, I wrote this to inquire about his experience and seek his correction. Zhilin.

8. In autumn of the jiawu year (1654), I passed Dragon Mountain on a boat and painted this for respected elder Maogong.

9. Evening colors suddenly descend upon the world,
As the setting sun pierces the night sky.
If morning does not break over the sea,
How does the sky’s reflection arise?
As if wishing to touch the moon,
The sun lingers closely by it.
Human life always depends on the sun,
Let alone on this winter day!
Drunkenly written by Yilin.

10. Autumn in the eighth month of the yichou year (1625), Zhilin.