Magpies and Hare
Ts'ui Po (ca. 11th century)
Sung Dynasty
(A.D. 960-1279)
Ink and color on silk. 
Hanging scroll. 
193.7 x 103.4cm
         Ts'ui Po,  was a
native of Haoliang, Anhwei
province.  His style name 
was Tzu-hsi. He excelled at
painting birds, flowers and
animals.  During the reign 
of Jen-tsung (A.D. 1023 -
1063),  Ts'ui  Po  was
summoned to paint a screen
for the Imperial Audience
Hall. The Emperor was so 
pleased that he appointed
Ts'ui Po a scholar in the
Painting Academy.
     The  painting  depicts 
two magpies with outspread 
wings and craning necks, 
one having alighted  on a
branch,  the  other  still 
hovering in  mid  air.
A spotted  hare  squats 
dumbfoundedly with lifted
head and wrinkled nose 
at  the  bottom  of  a  dry 
ditch.  An  old  chestnut 
tree with crumpled leaves,  
some brambles and a stalk 
of bamboo complete the 
landscape.