Hirai Baisen (1889–1969)
Fishing in the Shade
Japan, late 1910s
Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Gift of Terry Welch, 2021 (2021-03-078)
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Long before Baisen made this painting, fishing was a well-established motif in East Asian painting, rich in cultural significance. The subject of the fisherman ultimately derives from the ancient Chinese story of Jiang Ziya, who lived at the end of the Shang dynasty in the 11th century BCE. Jiang served the last corrupt ruler of the Shang, but eventually became disillusioned and feigned madness to resign. After disappearing for a time, he reemerged as a fisherman on the banks of a tributary of the Wei River.
For three years he cast his line in the water every day without any bait. When the local villagers laughed at him, he told them the fish would come to him when it was ready. Eventually, the ruler of the Zhou kingdom came across Jiang and struck up a conversation with him, thinking he was an ordinary fisherman. The ruler quickly realized that Jiang had a profound knowledge of military strategy, and personally invited him to become a minister of the Zhou. With Jiang’s help, the Zhou went on to overthrow the Shang and establish a new dynasty that would last for centuries.
Based on Jiang’s legend, fishermen became symbols of scholarly reclusion and hidden knowledge, a precedent continued in Baisen’s modernization of the traditional subject.
Further listening
This subject of the fisherman derives from the ancient Chinese story of Jiang Ziya, who lived at the end of the Shang dynasty during the 11th century B.C. E. Jiang served the last corrupt ruler of the Shang, but eventually became disillusioned and feigned madness to resign. After disappearing for a time, he reemerged as a fisherman on the banks of a tributary of the Wei River.
For three years he cast his line in the water every day without any bait. When the local villagers laughed at him, he told them a fish would come to him when it was ready. Eventually, the ruler of the Zhou kingdom came across Jiang and struck up a conversation with him, assuming him to be an ordinary fisherman. The ruler quickly realized Jiang had profound knowledge of military strategy and invited him to become a minister of the Zhou. Under Jiang’s advisement, the Zhou went on to overthrow the Shang and establish a new dynasty that would last for centuries.
Based on Jiang’s legend, fishermen became symbols of scholarly reclusion and hidden knowledge in East Asian art.