Five elements in harmony

This painting was completed by Lü Shoukun, Huang Bore and their two students. Using a semi-abstract manner, a harmonious state is captured here, achieved by the balance of the Taoist "five elements", that is, metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Lü Shoukun used simple strokes to outline the sun, and then drew the flame under it with burnt ink to present the element of "fire". Huang Bore painted the bushes in the bottom right-hand corner to show the presence of "earth" and "wood". Their students Jiang Qingshuang and Chang Shangpu painted the pavilions, mountain and the boats on the river in the upper part. Pavilions and boats are classified under the element "metal", while the river represents "water".