According to a Taoist book “History of the Immortals,” Zhong Kui, born in Zhongnan, Shanxi, was a talented prodigy. In the early Tang dynasty, he took part in the imperial examinations at the capital. However, he was rejected due to his disfigured appearance. In anger, Zhong Kui committed suicide upon the palace steps. The emperor buried him and dressed him in the costumes of an official, a red long robe, equal to the rank of “jinshi” at that time. In this picture, Zhong Kui wears an official hat and a red long robe with a fan in his right hand. And he sits on top of a rock in the yard, watching his subordinates, two little ghosts, playing chess. The picture is painted with meticulous brushstrokes and bright colors while the rock Zhong Kui sits on is delineated with splendid golden outlines.
繁中｜不語
Paintings
Xia Jing Shan
colour on paper
130×65
2010
題跋：人生在世一輩子經過苦難得失事前無人知究竟為什麼 不懂這是都有前世因果報應註定 於京都夏荊山題 時年八十有七。
印記：如夢如幻、夏荊山印、楠竹居士、荊山藏畫
CH-00126-XG
