two men playing a board game while four others watch; the game is being played outdoors in a rock garden under the pine trees; two distinctive stools and various other decorative objects scattered about scene

Scholars Playing "Go" Under Pine Trees, 14th century

Unknown artist, expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

This painting depicts a group of five scholars enjoying a game of go in an outdoor setting. It was a Confucian tradition that scholars be embodiments of moral, intellectual, and artistic perfection. The ancient board games of go (weiqi), Chinese chess (xiangqi), and double sixes (liubo) symbolized this valued trait of intellectual refinement. Four of the participants are seated on stools. The empty drum stool to the left is probably carved from white marble, a material common in outdoor furniture. The large round stool in the center has five fancy legs and is cushioned for comfort while the scholar seated to the right is on a very low wooden seat possibly indicating his lower status.

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Details
Title
Scholars Playing "Go" Under Pine Trees
Role
Artist
Accession Number
97.141
Curator Approved

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two men playing a board game while four others watch; the game is being played outdoors in a rock garden under the pine trees; two distinctive stools and various other decorative objects scattered about scene