元 佚名 玉谿思珉題贊 對月圖 軸|Reading a Sutra by Moonlight
ca. 1332
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
Dimensions
Image: 29 3/8 x 13 in. (74.6 x 33 cm) Overall with mounting: 59 x 13 5/8 in. (149.9 x 34.6 cm) Overall with knobs: 59 x 15 1/2 in. (149.9 x 39.4 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
China · Yuan dynasty (1271–1368)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward Elliott Family Collection, Purchase, The Dillon Fund Gift, 1982
Accession Number
1982.3.2
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the serene glow of moonlight, this exquisite hanging scroll from China's Yuan dynasty (ca.1332) captures a lone monk deeply absorbed in reading a sutra. Titled *Reading a Sutra bylight* (對月圖), the anonymous work, adorned with a colophon byuxi Shimin, exemplifies introspective spirit of the era. Rendered in delicate ink on paper, the painting measures 29 3/8 x 13 inches, designed to unroll dramatically for contemplation in a scholar's studio. Created during the Mongol-ruled Yuan period (1271–1368), when literati artists emphasized personal expression over imperial patronage, this piece reflects Chan (Zen) Buddhist ideals of enlightenment through quiet meditation. The minimalist composition—sparse rocks, a simple robe, and ethereal light—highlights masterful ink techniques: dry brush for texture, subtle washes for luminosity, evoking harmony between man, nature, and scripture. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection (Edward Elliott Family Collection, 1982), it invites visitors to pause, much like the monk, appreciating Yuan painting's poetic restraint and timeless cultural reverence for spiritual pursuits.