Spaces where thought can spring eternal
Guqin, the traditional Chinese plucked musical instrument associated with a sense of unadorned antiquity, may also create the perfect atmosphere for a study. Watching an exhibited guqin from the Southern Song era (1127-1279) being played, visitors can imagine a scenario in which ancient sages refer to its slow but refined melody for mental cultivation.
The great poet Tao Yuanming (365-427), also known for his reclusive lifestyle, once said: "In my younger years, I remained aloof to worldly affairs, and literature and music were my haven."
Wang says that it was this musing that inspired him to design the exhibition. When hung on the wall of the gallery, Tao's words may also enlighten visitors, encouraging them to think of their own paths they find to sneak away from their mundane daily routines, if only for a little while.
The Orchid Pavilion Preface, created by the 4th-century calligraphic guru Wang Xizhi, is probably one of the everlasting Chinese literary classics about a gathering of literati. Though being outdoors, the pavilion in present-day Zhejiang province is perhaps among the most famous "studies" in China.
