Focusing on Nature:
Depicting Living Things in Chinese Art

Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons (detail)
By Lü Ji (dates unknown), China, Ming dynasty, 15th–16th century (Important Cultural Property)

Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
May 12, 2026 (Tue) - June 14, 2026 (Sun)

From majestic lions and deer to delicate dragonflies and grasshoppers, the people of China have long cherished a diverse array of creatures, portraying them as auspicious symbols in painting. Artists have dedicated themselves to capturing the vitality of life—the glossy texture of fur, the beauty of plumage, and even the subtle movement of antennae. Spanning the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) through to the modern era, this gallery introduces the vibrant tradition of depicting living things in China from the 14th century to the 20th century.

Major Work(s) on Exhibit 3 results

	Designation	Name	Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance	Period	Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number	CMT
Highlight	Important Cultural Property	Insects and Flowers	Artist unknown, China	Yuan dynasty, 14th century	TA-488
Highlight	Important Cultural Property	Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons	By Lü Ji (dates unknown), China	Ming dynasty, 15th–16th century	TA-163
Highlight		Deer and Cranes	By Shen Quan (born 1682), China	Qing dynasty, 1739	Gift of Mr. Yamazaki Tatsuo, TA-641

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