The Portraits of Ning Mao

On the shaded back wall of the shrine, captivating character images come to life. Three men dressed identically stand alongside women. The men represent different stages of life: a vibrant youth on the right, a mature man with a strong presence on the left, and an elderly figure in the middle, hunched and contemplative. The elderly man holds a lotus flower, symbolizing purity and enlightenment. It seems to depict Ning Mao's artistic legacy, capturing his journey from youth to old age.

Northern Wei (386-535) Stone Carving. 79cm*182cm. Carving on shrine of Ning Mao in Luoyang, Henan Province. Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA.

This piece is compiled from the Chinese edition of Three Thousand Years of Chinese Painting by Foreign Languages Press and Yale University Press, translated by Chen Ying.