Riding a Dragon
Ma Yuan (fl. 1190-1224), Sung Dynasty
Hanging scroll, ink and colors on silk, 108 x 52.6 cm

    Ma Yuan, whose family originated in Ho-chung (modern Shansi), lived in Ch'ien-t'ang in Chekiang. He was active as a Painter-in-Attendance at the courts of Kuang-tsung and Ning-tsung (from 1190 to 1224). Although Ma is known for painting landscapes, he also excelled at figures as well as birds-and-flowers. Because he often focused the compositional elements of landscapes in one part of his paintings, he was later referred to as "One-corner Ma."

    In this painting, an immortal with a halo appears riding a dragon among the clouds, stirring up wind and rain in the process. The long sleeves and sash of the figure are whipped by the wind. The background is composed of light washes of ink, which represent the turbulent layers of clouds. A flash of lightning suddenly appears; it is almost as if one could hear the resulting sound of thunder amidst the wind and clouds, signifying the spirit force of the realm. The quivering brushwork is much in the Ma style. The mature brushwork is complemented by subdued coloring. Although appearing faded over time, this work still stands out as a masterpiece of Sung painting.

   The life span of Taoist deity is not restricted like those of mortals. They are often associated with dragons, upon which they roam the skies. Thus, this work is a fitting illustration of this notion and a superb example of Sung religious painting.