Who painted Tea Drinking Under the Wutong Tree?

Tea Drinking Under the Wutong Tree was painted by Tang Yin in 1496.

Where can I see Tea Drinking Under the Wutong Tree?

Tea Drinking Under the Wutong Tree is held by Art Institute of Chicago.

What movement is Tea Drinking Under the Wutong Tree?

Tea Drinking Under the Wutong Tree is associated with Ming dynasty painting.

Artwork

Tea Drinking Under the Wutong Tree

Tang Yin , 1496

Tea Drinking Under the Wutong Tree is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Tang Yin. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. This hand‑scroll painting, executed in ink with subtle colour on paper, captures a tranquil tea gathering beneath a Wutong tree.

Accession no.: 40558
Credit line: Kate S. Buckingham Endowment Fund

About this work

Overview

This hand‑scroll painting, executed in ink with subtle colour on paper, captures a tranquil tea gathering beneath a Wutong tree. Two figures sit on a low platform, sharing tea while a servant gently fans a portable bamboo stove that holds a kettle and cups. The composition is rendered in a narrow, elongated format typical of Chinese narrative scrolls.

Subject & Meaning

The scene reflects the refined practice of tea tasting cultivated by Chinese scholars and Buddhist monks. One of the seated men is identified as Wu Kuan, a poet and close associate of the artist, who is shown holding a scroll and a teapot, symbolising his literary and ceremonial roles. The presence of a monk underscores the spiritual dimension of the tea ritual.

Technique & Style

Tang Yin employs delicate brushwork and restrained colour to convey the quiet intimacy of the moment. The figures are rendered with soft outlines, while the foliage of the Wutong tree is suggested through light ink washes. The bamboo stove, central to the composition, is depicted with precise lines that highlight its functional design.

History & Provenance

The painting was created by Tang Yin shortly after Wu Kuan’s death as a commemorative tribute. The first colophon, added by the calligrapher Zhu Yunming, records a poetic exchange between Zhu and Wu concerning tea. The work thus serves both as a visual record of a specific tea ceremony and as a memorial to a respected literary figure.

Tea Drinking Under the Wutong Tree, Tang Yin

Artist & collection

Artist

Tang Yin

Tang Yin (Chinese: 唐寅; pinyin: Táng Yín; Cantonese Yale: Tong Yan; 6 March 1470 – 7 January 1524), courtesy name Bohu (伯虎) and Ziwei (子畏), was a Chinese painter, calligrapher, and poet of the Ming dynasty period.