Moxibustion

This painting, traditionally attributed to Li Tang, depicts an itinerant doctor engaged in his profession. He has the instruments of his trade tucked into his bonnet as he burns mugwort cones on a patient's back, which appears inflamed. The patient struggles in pain, requiring three others to restrain and keep him still by stepping on his legs, holding his arms and pressing his shoulder. In contrast with the man's pained expression is the concerned look of the other three, as if commiserating with him. To the right is the doctor's assistant with paraphernalia, such as a fan, which indicate his role in preparing medicinal patches. He is shown blowing on a patch to apply medicine on the patient's back.
The brushwork and coloring in this painting is refined and realistic, being a masterpiece of Southern Song genre painting in the academic style. Despite the seriousness of the subject, the artist seems to have given it a comical touch by rendering the figures' expressions with exaggeration and animation, offering a memorable record of life in the countryside.