Shortly before the autumn of 1610 the renowned Ming dynasty official, painter, writer, and collector Mi Wanzhong (1570 1628) purchased a scholar's rock to add to his already famous collection. So mesmerized was he by this newly purchased wonder, which was said to eclipse all others he owned, that he commissioned his friend and artistic mentor Wu Bin (c. 1568 1621) to paint a scroll showing ten views of this fantastic rock. The result was a monumental scroll, more than thirty feet long, of such grandeur and originality that it is considered one of the most important Chinese paintings and a milestone in the revered Chinese tradition of rock collecting. Crags and Ravines Make a Marvellous View celebrates Wu Bin's monumental work through a combination of scholarly essays, translations, and reproductions. In keeping with the spirit of the Rasika imprint, this beautiful book invites both the scholar and the curious amateur to contemplate and enjoy an exceptional work of art.

Translated by: Richard John Lynn