Twelve views of West Lake Pair of six-panel folding screens

This screen [B65D50 and B65D51] depicts twelve separate scenes from a lake located in Hangzhou, China. Between the Chinese Southern Song (1127–1279) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, a series of renowned sites on this lake were designated as “Views of West Lake.” These views became a popular theme for both Chinese and Japanese artists—although artists from Japan were prohibited from traveling to China, and thus had to rely on printed and painted images of the lake for inspiration. These screens by the Japanese artist Ike Taiga cover the course of a year, depicting different parts of West Lake with varying seasonal indicators. They showcase Taiga’s impressive range of brushwork and ink, and his remarkable ability to transform Chinese models into a distinctive style of his own.

Description of right-screen panels, from right to left:

蘇堤春暁

1. Spring Dawn on the Su Causeway Taiga captures the six stone arches of the Su Causeway, depicted from a bird’s-eye view, in simple, bold, and dry brushstrokes. Willow leaves in blue and red peach blossoms indicate the springtime.

西溪探梅

2. Seeking Plum Blossoms at West Stream Located in the western region of the lake, this site has been famous for plum blossom viewing since the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) when three thousand plum trees were planted here.

花港観魚

3. Viewing Fish at Flower Pond Two beautiful women serve as seasonal indicators of the spring scenery, as they watch fish near a huge tree, along with three gentlemen and two servants.

雷峯返照

4. Reflecting Light at Leifeng Pagoda Leifeng Pagoda against the setting sun was chosen as one of the ten “Views of West Lake.” Here, two sages are shown heading to a gate of a steep mountain.

曲院風荷

5. Lotus in the Breeze at Quyuan Using different kinds of dots in varying ink tones, along with the color blue, as an indicator of the direction of the wind, Taiga evokes the breeze and atmosphere of Quyuan, where more than a hundred kinds of lotus were planted.

玉带晴虹

6. Jade Sash—Rainbow in Clear Skies Sometimes during the heat of summer, the Su Causeway appears as an iridescent band, like a jade sash. J28, left side lollipop 9”x16”

浙江秋濤

7. Autumn Waves on the Qiantang River The great tidal bore at the mouth of the Qiantang River could reach heights of thirty feet. These large waves became a poetic scene associated with autumn.

平湖明月

8. Clear Moon over the Placid Lake Contrasted to the calm lake is a scene of a lively banquet, where sages are enjoying the harvest moon on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar.

南屏晩鐘

9. Evening Bell at Nanping Hill Since the 1100s, Jingci temple on Nanping Hill has been a pilgrimage site for Japanese priests and scholars. When the temple bell rings, the surrounding hills amplify the sound so that it can be heard in Hangzhou. The season is indicated by the presence of red in the scenery behind the mountain.

葛嶺朝暾

10. Morning Sunshine over the Ridge of Master Ge The mountain is named after the scholar, medical doctor, and alchemist Ge Hong, who was thought to have practiced Daoism there.

断橋残雪

11. Lingering Snow on Broken Bridge Located at the east end of the Bai Causeway, Broken Bridge is famous for its beauty, especially in the snow, and as a meeting spot of two famous lovers, one of whom, a lady in white, was actually a mythological snake sprite.

霊石樵歌

12. Songs of Woodcutters at Spirit Rock Woodcutters sang while working near the twin peaks at West Lake. Their songs resonated against the nearby limestone blocks on Mount Jiquing. Because of the resonation, the rocks were regarded as spiritual. J28, left side lollipop 9”x16”