Why does a virtuous man take delight in landscapes? It is for these reasons: that in a rustic retreat he may nourish his nature; that amid carefree play of streams and rocks, he may take delight; that he may constantly meet in the country fisherman, wood-cutters, and hermits, and see the soaring of the cranes, and hear the crying of the monkeys. The din of the dusty world and the locked-in-ness of human habitations are what human nature habitually abhors; while, on the contrary, haze, mist, and the haunting spirits of the mountain are what human nature seeks, and yet can rarely find. When, however, in the hey-day of great peace and prosperity, the minds, both of a man’s sovereign and of his parents, are full of high expectations of his services, should he be aloof, neglecting the responsibilities of honour and righteousness? In the face of such duties the benevolent man cannot seclude himself and shun the world…Having no access to the landscapes, the lover of forest and stream, the friend of mist and haze, enjoys them only in his dreams. How delightful then to have a landscape painted by a skilled hand! Without leaving the room, at once, he finds himself among the streams and ravines; the cries of birds and monkeys are faintly audible to his senses; light on the hills and reflection on the water, glittering, dazzle his eyes. Does not such a scene satisfy his mind and captivate his mind and captivate his heart?
–Guo Xi (1020-1090) An Essay on Landscape Painting, Translated by: Shio Sakanishi, Butler & Tanner Ltd., 1935, pp.35
Reqnotes and Requotes 