Su Shi Loses His Belt

CHINA; Ming dynasty

This painting depicts a story from the Record of Pointing to the Moon. Su Shi, also known as Su Dongpo, a renowned Song dynasty (960–1279) scholar, visited Jinshan Temple. Upon his arrival, Chan Master Foyin told him that there was nowhere for him to sit. The witty Su answered that Foyin’s body, composed of the four elements and five aggregates, could serve as a seat. Foyin replied “I have a question for you. If you answer it, then you may sit on my body, but if you cannot, you have to leave your jade belt behind.” Su responded by taking off his treasured belt. Master Foyin said, “the four elements are empty and the five aggregates have no substantial existence. So where will you sit?” Su was speechless.
Foyin and Su sit in chairs facing each other. Two young attendants stand in the lower right corner. There are huts and mountains obscured by mist in the distance. Curving lines painted with a trembling brush are used to depict the clothing of the figures, while rigid, geometric lines give the rocks in the lower register a unique character. The painting bears the signature and seal prints of the artist, Cui Zizhong, as well as five poetic postscripts written during the rule of Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1736–1795), and the imperial seal of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911).