Zhao Mengfu Writing the Heart (Hridaya) Sutra in Exchange for Tea
1542
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1542
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A man sits at a low table, brush poised over paper. An ink stone, ink stick, and water dropper wait beside him. He’s writing a Buddhist text in neat black characters. This painting shows a story from 200 years earlier: a famous calligrapher traded his work for tea. The artist, Qiu Ying, painted it for a wealthy patron who loved old tales. The scene feels quiet, like a moment frozen in time. If you like this, look up *Ming dynasty (1368–1644)* to see more paintings from the same era.
