Playing the Qin Under the Woods

林下鸣琴

Playing the Qin Under the Woods is a classic literati landscape by Zhu Derun, one of the important painters in the Yuan Dynasty. The painting depicts scholars gathering under tall pine trees by the river, with one playing the qin and others listening quietly, expressing the elegant and secluded ideal of Yuan literati life. The composition is open and balanced, using a level-distance perspective to create a peaceful, elegant, and harmoniously poetic scene.

In brush and ink techniques, Zhu Derun inherits the tradition of Northern Song landscape represented by Guo Xi. He uses cloud-head texture strokes for mountains and crab-claw branch patterns for pines, showing solid and natural structure. The work relies on delicate changes of dry, wet, dark, and light ink and ingenious blank space to shape the atmosphere, with simple and vivid figures, fully reflecting the aesthetic of expressing spirit through concise forms.

Art historically, this painting is a key work that延续 the Li Cheng-Guo Xi academic landscape tradition in the Yuan Dynasty. It combines rigorous modeling with literati temperament, showing the diversity of Yuan landscape painting. As a representative of literati landscape themed on music and seclusion, it has high artistic value and important influence on later landscape painting.

Specifications
  • Item No. SKUYUAN101
  • Dynasty Yuan Dynasty
  • Author Zhu Derun(朱德润)
  • Theme Trees & Stones
  • Image Size 57.3 x 120.8cm
  • Overall Mounted Size 69 x 195cm
Buyer Reviews
G
United Kingdom (GB) (90.242.*.*)
I hung this scroll in my meditation space, and it has completely changed the energy of the room. There is a profound sense of peace in the scholar’s solitude under the towering trees. The ink tonality in this SinoInArt replica is so rich and deep; it doesn't look like a print at all, but a living work of art.
J
United States (US) (108.150.*.*)
Zhu Derun’s mastery of the Li-Guo school style is fully visible in this high-fidelity reproduction. The 'crab-claw' branches of the trees are rendered with such precision that you can study the brushwork as if you were looking at the original in the museum. The bespoke Xuan paper provides the correct historical texture that standard prints just can't match.
I
United States (US) (164.121.*.*)
The way Zhu Derun paints trees is legendary, and this replica does him justice. You can see the strength in the trunks and the softness of the foliage. The traditional mounting makes it easy to hang and ensures the paper stays flat. It brings a piece of the Yuan Dynasty mountains right into my living room.
I
Unknown (244.142.*.*)
I wanted something for my office that represented focus and wisdom. 'Playing the Zither Under the Trees' is exactly that. The vertical format is very commanding, and the traditional silk mounting adds a level of prestige that impresses everyone who walks in. The SinoInArt team clearly cares about the heritage of the Yuan Dynasty.
A
United States (US) (7.165.*.*)
As a Guqin (zither) player, I have always been drawn to Zhu Derun’s 'Playing the Zither Under the Trees.' This 1:1 replica from SinoInArt is breathtaking. The custom Xuan paper captures the delicate ink lines of the zither strings and the scholar’s focused expression with incredible clarity. It feels as though the music is practically floating off the scroll.
Works Appreciation