Artwork Details
31-9/16 x 18-5/8 in. (image) 66-1/2 x 23-13/16 in. (installed)
DynastySeal: Qiantang Seal: Shi shi Yiming
Accession NumberPurchased to complement the Mr. and Mrs. Eli Lilly Collection of Chinese art through the bequest of Mrs. Enid Goodrich and the support of Lilly Endowment Inc.
CopyrightAsian Art (Chinese and other Asian)
Color PaletteShimomura, Kyoto. Kataoka, Kyoto. Shigeyuki Yanagi collection. [James Freeman, Kyoto]; IMA
朱買臣
Zhu was a faggot gatherer in the Han dynasty. Though he studied diligently while collecting twigs, his wife left him because she could not stand poverty. His studying paid off, and he became governor of Guiji 會稽, Zhejiang. His wife, who had sunk to destitution, begged to come back. Whereupon he had a bucket of water poured on the ground and said, "If you can pick up spilt water, you may return." His wife went and hanged herself.
On his appointment as governor, Zhu Maichen went to his post in old clothes and without any ceremony. He suddenly produced his seal of office, astonishing his flustered subordinates, who were wasting time drinking. He ultimately rose to the rank of Minister of State, but became mixed up in some intrigue and was put to death in 116 bce.
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