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“A Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers” stands as the sole surviving chef-d’oeuvre of Wang Ximeng, a genius artist from Northern Song Dynasty. With cyan and green as dominant hues, the painting captures the natural beauty of China’s magnificent landscape. Unfurling before the beholder’s eyes is an 11-meter-long scroll, characterized by an intensely vivid interplay of colors and a carefully crafted setting. Wang’s depiction evokes a profound sense of awe, encapsulating the magnetic allure of natural beauty. The cyan-green hue represents an awe-inspiring aesthetic choice, a rarity among Chinese landscape paintings. Adding to its singularity,“A Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers” is the longest surviving and best-preserved work featuring this cyan-green palette. With such uniqueness, this painting naturally became the focal point of our stage performance.

Photo of Han Zhen, choreographer and director of the dance production "Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting", during an exclusive interview with Guangming Online.

“A Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers” is a visual ode to the natural splendor of China. Our production,“Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting”, is a dance performance that shines a spotlight on the human aspect of the legendary painting. We delved into the stories behind each individual that contributed to the creation and preservation of this incredible masterpiece. Wang Ximeng, our protagonist, created this painting at the tender age of 18, an age infused with romanticism and profound curiosity. As we created the show, we resonated with the 18-year-old Wang, since we share in the arduous journey of artistic creation. Our admiration for Wang transcends merely acknowledging his effort; we pay tribute to the extraordinary artist who demonstrated stunning ingenuity. In our performance, we imagine Wang Ximeng as a mentally agile, creative person of contagious enthusiasm.

Photo of Wang Ximeng, played by actor Zhang Han, in the dance production “Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting”. (Photo provided by China Oriental Performing Arts Group)

Besides Wang, we highlight the contemporary craftspeople whose skills contributed to the genesis of “A Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers”. The enduring legacy of Wang’s masterpiece owes much to the expertise of artisans engaged in tasks ranging from engraving characters and weaving silk to grinding stone, making pens, and producing ink. These skilled craftspeople played a pivotal role in ensuring the resilience of Wang’s creation against the erosion of time. Without them, it would be impossible for us to appreciate Wang’s magnum opus.

Almost a thousand years ago, Wang created the painting under the patronage of Emperor Huizong of Song Dynasty. However, the enduring existence of this masterpiece owes a profound debt to the labor of the craftspeople, whose skills epitomized the traditional craftsmanship that reached an incredible level during Song Dynasty. Without their expertise, this treasured painting would have succumbed to the passage of time. In our performance, an ink-maker’s wisdom echoes: “Even if the paper falls apart through wear and tear, the ink will stay unscathed for a thousand years.” Each technique underlying Wang’s work indeed plays a vital role in ensuring its preservation. Today, we owe the longevity of this masterpiece to the state-of-the-art craftsmanship wielded by those artisans.

We were filled with overwhelming admiration when, after relentlessly polishing and refining the script, we decided to take the dedication of the artisans as the central theme of our performance. Ultimately, the grandeur of the painting is a result of the combined efforts of the craftspeople who participated in the creation and inheritance of this patrimony.

Today, the joint efforts to preserve the painting is still continuing. Throughout our creative process, we engaged in a fruitful exchange of ideas with scholars from the Palace Museum, experts dedicated to studying the artistic significance of Wang Ximeng’s work. These scholars also contributed to passing on this rich legacy. Upon concluding the choreography of our performance and presenting it to these experts, they applauded our efforts, affirming that our contribution will also be remembered as a commendable endeavor in preserving the legacy embodied by“A Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers”.

Photo of the dance production “Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting”. (Photo provided by China Oriental Performing Arts Group)

With the enchanting debut of “Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting”, our performance resonated profoundly with the audience. We aspire to take the audience on a captivating journey, delving into the time-honored and quintessential elements of Chinese traditions and culture. We aim to foster a collective commitment to preserving not only "A Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers" but also rich traditions and culture woven into the fabric of our nation. We also look forward to introducing this performance to audiences worldwide and showcasing a production born in the East before the eyes of the world. In this way, the intoxicating allure of Wang’s masterpiece as well as the meticulous efforts of its creator and craftsmen, along with the enduring appeal of Chinese traditions and culture, can transcend borders.

Contributed by Han Zhen, choreographer and director of the dance production "Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting".