Scroll of Cultivating Leisure (Xiao Xian Qing Ke Tu Juan) by Sun Kehong
This Ming Dynasty masterpiece, painted by Sun Kehong (1533–1610), documents 20 refined leisure activities of late-Ming literati through a horizontal scroll format. Each scene, accompanied by poetic inscriptions, captures idealized moments of scholarly life:

1. Lamp Niche (燈一龕): A solitary scholar meditates by lamplight in a rain-soaked night.
2. Lofty Pillow (高枕): Summer relaxation with elevated pillows, symbolizing liberation from societal constraints.
3. Buddha Veneration (禮佛): Ritualistic devotion to cultivate mindfulness.
4. Tea Brewing (烹茗): Artful preparation of famed teas like Guzhu and Huiquan.
5. Art Appreciation (展畫): Ming scholars admiring contemporary paintings over Song-Yuan classics…. (truncated for brevity; full list includes 20 scenes like Moonlit Strolls, Snow Viewing, and Inkstone Cleansing).

Artistic Significance:

• Style: Executed in “simplicity and lightness” (用筆運色皆極為簡淡), the scroll emphasizes mood over detail, reflecting the Songjiang School‘s literati aesthetics that succeeded the Wu School.
• Cultural Context: It epitomizes late-Ming intellectuals’ pursuit of “harmony between nature and artifice”, creating an idealized world through curated daily rituals.

Artist Background:
Sun Kehong, styled Yunzhi and nicknamed Xueju, was a polymath from a prestigious family (his father served as Minister of Rites). As magistrate of Hanyang, he balanced governance with artistic pursuits, mastering landscapes, Buddhist figures, and calligraphy while amassing rare books. His home, adorned with pines and flowing water motifs, became a cultural salon for scholars like Chen Jiru.

Current Status: Preserved at the National Palace Museum, Taipei, the scroll (1333.9 cm long) remains a touchstone for understanding Ming literati culture’s fusion of Daoist serenity and Confucian refinement.

Key Translation Notes:

• 松江派: Songjiang School (post-Dong Qichang artistic movement)
• 林下清課: Forest-hermit style self-cultivation
• 銷閑清課: Cultivating leisure as spiritual practice
• 主客真率: Unrestrained Host-Guest Candor(convivial gatherings)

This scroll transcends mere illustration—it codifies an entire philosophy of living where mundane acts become portals to transcendence.