Chinese Painting Lotus: Spirit of the Literati
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Green Lotus(detail)
By Zhang Daqian (1899–1983), China, Republic period, 1945 (Gift of Dr. Hayashi Munetake)Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
June 16, 2026 (Tue) - July 26, 2026 (Sun)The lotus has been cherished in Chinese culture since ancient times. Regarded as a symbol of good fortune, it has been associated with romantic love and the desire for many children to carry on the family line. Moreover, the lotus has represented the ideal virtuous man, as it grows from muddy water but produces pure, unstained flowers. This exhibition explores how China’s literati — scholars and men of letters — viewed the lotus. Focusing on the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), it explores how literati painters depicted lotus flowers, leaves, seeds, and stems throughout the seasons, and further examines how these images spread among the broader public following China’s modernization.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Flowering Plants | By Zhao Zhiqian (1829–1884), China | Qing dynasty, 1874 | Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujirō, TA-238 | |||
| Highlight | Green Lotus | By Zhang Daqian (1899–1983), China | Republic period, 1945 | Gift of Dr. Hayashi Munetake, TA-536 | |||
| Highlight | Album of Flowering Plants | By Xu Sanyi (dates unknown), China | Qing dynasty, 1745 | TA-287 |