Hand Scroll of Eight Drinking Immortals You Qiu (?), Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

    Ink on paper, 656×30.5 cm
    You Qiu, courtesy name Ziqiu with style name Fengqiu, was a native of Changzhou (today's Suzhou, Jiangsu Province) living in Taicang (located in today's Jiangsu Province). Noted for his exquisite painting skills, besides his devotion to landscape painting, he also created figure paintings, including the sub-genre of women. He was especially acclaimed for his outline paintings which were produced without color, shading or wash. His painting technique was a distant continuation of Liu Songnian (act. ca. late 12th c) of the Song dynasty (960-1279) and Qian Shunju (ca. 1239-1299) of the Yuan dynasty (1272-1368). His paintings feature a delicate, elegant and transcendent effect.
    He used to paint frescoes at Guan Yu Temple in western door of Taicang town and he also painted the images of the Buddha at Sutra Collection Pavilion in Yanshan. He copied “Five Artists in Juyang” (Bei Song Dynasty; the five artists referred to Du Yan, Wang Huan, Bi Shichang, Zhu Guan and Feng Ping). The painting was reserved by the Zhu’s descendants. His outline paintings of the royal ladies were so vivid and amazing that people praised him as intelligent as Qiu Ying.
    This is a long scroll, ink on paper. The painting is about “eight drunken artists”. You Qiu signed on the top (left) in seal character: “Eight Drunk Artists”.
    The first section is “He Zhizhang Riding a Horse”. There was an older servant in front of him; two younger accompanies were following behind. All of them were drunk but cute. The painter recited two lines (Du Fu’s poem: A Song for the Eight Drunk Artists) in running hand to describe this painting.
    The second section is about “the Drunk Ru Yang Governor”. Ru Yang Governor indulged in drinking and he was so drunk after drinking three Dous (an object shaped like a cup). The painting described that Ru Yang Governor was riding a horse with four servants and they met an old man who was selling wine. The painter wrote three lines of the poem on this painting in running hand.
    The third section is about Li Shizhi. One of his hand was on the tea table and the other of his hand holding a cup. Four younger servants accompanied him. The painter wrote three lines of the poem on this painting.
    The Fourth section is about Li Zongzhi. He was such a handsome young man who was holding a cup under the light of the moon. Two young servants were lighting a stove. The painter wrote three lines of the poem on this painting in running hand.
    The fifth section is about Su Jin. Su Jin broke the rules of the Buddhism. He was talking with a monk. There were a servant and another monk next to him. The painter wrote three lines of the poem on this painting in running hand.
    The sixth section is about Li Bai. He was so drunk that he can’t stand up. Five friends were trying to help him. The painter wrote three lines of the poem on this painting in running hand.
    The seventh section is about Zhang Xu. He was writing when he was drunk. five figures were in the painting.
    This script certified as a genuine by Xie Yaliu, Liu Jiuan and Yang Renkai of Fu Jian Museum in November, 1988.