Lot 624. An extremely rare inscribed rectangular inkstone, Inscribed by Li Mi, dated 1621; 34cm wide. Sold for HK$ 350,000 (€ 41,921). © Bonhams.

Of rectangular form, meticulously carved with an extensive inscription in kaishu , the reverse plain, wood frame of well-patinated huali.

Provenance Source: Oriental Art Gallery Ltd. (Gerard Hawthorn, Ben Janssens and Roger Keverne), London, 1993.

Note: In 1080, the famous Song dynasty painter Li Gonglin (1049-1106) completed a painting named The Eighteen Greatest Virtuous People from the White Lotus Societyfor Li Chongyuan. The next year, Chongyuan wrote a eulogy, describing the activities held by the great monks and Confucians from the White Lotus society at Mount Lu. In the Ming dynasty, as dated in the inkstone, Li Mi (active in the Wanli and Tianqi periods) wrote this memorial and inscribed it on this stone in 1621. According to the official records of the Zhang area, Mi was highly accomplished at carving calligraphy on stone stele. He received the highest appreciations from the renowned literati artist Dong Qichang ( 1555-1636). Surviving examples of his work are extremely rare.

seized the moment Lee Chong yuan Xin Dynasty "Lotus Society eighteen Yin stamp" stone "Li Mi" section

According to the engraved text, Li Gonglin (1049-1106), a famous painter in the Song Dynasty, made Li Chongyuan (the birth and death years are unknown, but he was listed at the same time with Li Gonglin and Li Lianggong, No. "Longmian Sanli"), "The Eighteen Sage of Lotus Society" Completed in 1080, the painting depicts the activities of the Bailian Society, a gathering of monks and famous Confucians during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The following year Li Chongyuan named this icon. Later in 1621, Li Mi (Ming Wanli / Tianqi Nian, birth and death years unknown) was written on the stone. According to the "Zhangzhou Prefecture Records", Li Mi, Longxi people, Gongzhu style book, Lin Gong monument amount, was appreciated by Dong Qichang (1555-1636), he asked for the book currency, and later wrote the "Huang Ting Nei Jing" 3000 Multi-words, good workmanship, was the best at that time. Unfortunately, there are not many handed-down works of calligraphy or carved stone.

Interpretation:
Long Mian Li Boshi wrote "The Eighteen Sages of the Lotus Society" for Yu, and wrote about the current events. According to the behavior of the eighteen sages, Shamen Huiyuan was a Confucian at first. After listening to Daoan's lecture "Pan Ruo Jing", he suddenly realized that he abandoned his Confucianism with his brother Hui Chi. In Taiyuan Middle, to Lushan, Shimen Huiyong first lived in the incense, and wanted to be in Xishan. The night of the mountain god dreamed, Ji Shi left the teacher, suddenly thunderstorms occurred the night after. Pingdan, the land is frank, and the wood is left unfinished. Jiangzhou Jianshi Huanyi played a different role. He built the temple for the teacher and the Donglin, and the hall was named Shenyun.

There were sometimes Liu Chengzhi, a survivor of Peng City, Lei Cizong of Yuzhang, Zhou Xuzhi of Yanmen, Zongbing, Zhang Quan, and Zhang Ye of Nanyang. All six people, all of whom were famous for a while, abandoned the official residence and came to Yiyuan. There are seven people in the Shamen Daotan, Tanchang, Huirui, Tanhu, Daojing, Daozhu, Tanshunfan, and there are two monks of the Buddhist monk, Buddha, Natutoluo, and Buddha, Yeshe. No. "Eighteen Lushan".

Shi Chenjun Xie Lingyun was self-conceited, and was rarely promoted, and came to the community to see Yuanshi, and he was sincerely convinced. It is to plant white lotus in the open pool, and seek the pre-cleaning society. Master Yuan refused to accept it because of his confusion. When Tao Qian abandoned his official residence in Lili, every time he came to the club, or when he arrived, he gathered his brows and went back. The teacher loved it and wanted to stay. Taoist Lu Xiu lived in a simple and quiet view, and often came to the community to get along with Yuan. I lived in the East Forest far away, and didn't cross the Tiger Creek. I sent Lu Taoist one day, and suddenly walked across the stream, holding each other and laughing. He tasted the wine again, and it became clear, so the poet has "the chief who loves Tao Tao is drunk and sends the Taoist priests late. The wine is broken through the stream, and the others are like the master." Youyun: "Tao "Drinking too much can't be done, and Xie Gong can't help but return".

This picture is an approach at the beginning, and it is turbulent with the clear stream, twists and turns, over the stone bridge, the stream loop, Shiyan one, and then up, Shiyan one or two. There is a square stone pool in the leisure of the rock, planting white lotus flowers, and there is a stone gradient mountain near the rock, and it runs away without knowing it. When the path is poor, the horizon is long cloud, covering the top of the tree waist rock, its height is far and near, and you can't see it. There are high cliffs and hanging springs beside the stone pond, which is a pool under the river. The tributary runs through the pond and bets on the brook. Those who are rocky and turbulent, Huxi is also. Beyond the rock, there are two people from the parade, one from the body and half of the body, Zong Tanya, and one from the stone, and Tan Shunya. There are six speakers in the rock banquet, and one speaker on the bed with a few waves of dust, and the Taoist also. A person holding a feather fan to watch the hanging ape and intending to listen deeply, Lei Zizong also. Dao Jing also sits under the bed with his palms together. Those who sit face to face with each other are also jealous. A man who listened to the scriptures and knelt followed. Tong Ziyi, Shushusaoshou, tired of listening. Lotus Pond On the top, there are five people sitting around the stone platform and signing the righteousness. The stone incense burners are listed on the stone. One person sitting on the stone is Liu Chengzhi. Zhang Yi, who looked back with a hand on the beam and leaned on the stone, looked back. Huirui is also a person who sits down and reads the Bible. Hui Chi also sits back and sits on the side of the room while meditating. Huiyong also refers to the person who holds the wish. One person held Jingji and Tongzi holding Ruyi, and then the boy kneeled and fired, holding the clasp and blowing towards the furnace. One person leaned down and cooked while holding a tea tray. There is a golden statue of Manjusri in another rock. There are three Buddhas sitting under the ring, and one person kneels and sings in the furnace, Tan Chang also. Dao Bing Ye, who sat alone and fisted. Zhou Xuzhi, who sits alone while holding the sutra. Both Linxi Puppeteers are Vatican monks, and those who hold short buttons on their shoulders and Batuoluo. Yeshe who sat on his knees as he wished. Tong Ziyi, curly-haired face, holding a feather fan standing behind. One person stood up and looked up, looking up at the hanging spring, who sat and turned his feet, Zhang Ye also. The boy stands on his side holding a towel, and there is one who squats and draws. Near the stone bridge, the cliff rises, and there are monks and Taoists who catch and laugh before, and Yuan Gong sends Lu Taoist to Huxi. A man looks strange and stands up to the man who catches the towel bottle, and the snake catcher also. The boy was standing on his shoulders, and one person took the basket to the public. Yuan Ming has a foot disease and tastes the bamboo basket as his public opinion. His son and his disciples should shoulder the shoulders. The boy was born with a wine scoop, and a person who rides on a bay leaf rider, Xie Lingyun also. A person holding Qu Li, the boy bears, and rides forward. Every man is thirty or eight, horse one, ape one, deer one, utensils and plants, no longer count. The figures are scattered, the springs are beautiful, the chasing thousands are contained in the pen, and the crowds are virtuous in the palm of the hand, and the picture suddenly seems to be connected to it. Talking about the dust, if you want to hang the river and spit, arguing without stopping; while sitting and listening, if you want to hold your breath, you will try to understand the meaning; while the meditating person, if you want to hook deep, knock on the entrance, the house The house of spirits travels in a trance's court; those who are brahma, if they want to turn their mouths and tongues, and there is the sound of clouds and thunders, walking with the sound of the sea tide, the exchange is like the wind and the wind; Laughing the player, Xuan Qu is absolutely down, reaching the crown. Covering his heart and forgetting his hand, the pen and the god will know, and they are so beautiful that they can slave Gu Lu and the child servant Zhang Wu, and walk alone for thousands of years. Those who are not eighteen are not enough to publish Bo Shi, and those who are not are not enough to write the interest of 18 people. Isn't it the spring gypsum and the haze, the smell is similar, so if the work described at the same time coexist. The boy servant Zhang Wu walked alone for thousands of years. Those who are not eighteen are not enough to publish Bo Shi, and those who are not are not enough to write the interest of 18 people. Isn't it the spring gypsum and the haze, the smell is similar, so if the work described at the same time coexist. The boy servant Zhang Wu walked alone for thousands of years. Those who are not eighteen are not enough to publish Bo Shi, and those who are not are not enough to write the interest of 18 people. Isn't it the spring gypsum and the haze, the smell is similar, so if the work described at the same time coexist.

Bo Shi Yu Yu was a brother-in-law and a friend of the real mountain forest Mo Ni, for this reason Tu Fan was born on the 38th. Yu Yuzhi, Youju sleep under the bed. Visitors, or unknown lotus affairs, because they remember later, visitors should be content. Pictured on Yuan Feng Gengshen on December 25th. In the next year, Xinyou, Xinyou, on the 26th of the first lunar month, Long Mian, Li Chongyuan, Yuan Zhongji. Tomorrow Qi Xinyou first year Xia Ximin Li Mi Shu and Le Shi.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 24 Nov 2012, Hong Kong, Admiralty