Lot 132
COLLECTION OF FORTY ILLUSTRATIONS OF 'THE JOURNEY TO THE WEST'
QING DYNASTY, 1880S
Fine Asian & Islamic Works of Art | 557
Auction: 15 May 2019 at 17:00 BST
Description
ink and colour on paper, depicting scenes taken from The Journey to the West including amongst others The Mysterious Light, The Magnetic Army, The Giant Confusion, focussing in particular on portrayals of aspects of the Realm of Hell, such as Mother Mang's Pavilion, The Inevitable Bridge and The Wheel of Life, each leaf titled in English (40)
Dimensions
27cm x 20.3cm
Footnote
Provenance:
Commissioned by James Ware (1859-1913) in the 1880s whilst living and working in Shanghai as a missionary; thence by direct family descent.
Reimagining The Journey to the West
Born in Lewisham, James Ware (1859-1913) was an English sailor and captain in the Merchant Navy. He went to China with his wife in 1881, initially to set up a business. The needs of the people along the densely populated waterfronts of Shanghai and Ningbo so touched their hearts that they soon decided to begin missionary work instead. After joining the service of the British and Foreign Bible Society, James rented a building in Shanghai, converted it into a chapel, and began to preach. The Wares also adopted a Chinese daughter, whom they found crippled from bound feet.
James was well versed in Chinese, and preached in the local Shanghai dialect. His daughter recalls vividly his passionate style, "he spoke so earnestly, with every muscle tense, acting out every dramatic part of the Bible in such a lifelike way that the whole congregation was spellbound."
James served the committee that revised the translation of the New Testament and completed the translation of the Old Testament. His greatest achievement though was the translation of The Journey to the West, one of the Four Great Classic Chinese Novels featuring the legendary Monkey King, born from a rock and possessing the magical power to transform himself into various animals and objects. As part of the translation project, James commissioned itinerant Chinese artists to illustrate important episodes of the novel. In addition to the adventures the Monkey King and his teacher Xuanzang encountered on their pilgrimage to India, the artists focussed on portrayals of The Realm of Hell, which plays an important role in the Buddhist-inspired novel. There is for example a fascinating view of the Wheel of Rebirth. These illustrations would have been used by James to draw comparisons between the Christian and the Chinese conceptions of life after death in front of his congregation.
Handed down carefully through family, the paintings are in remarkable condition. They not only testify to an English philanthropist's passion for China and her cultural heritage, but also provide rare insight into the creative talent hidden within late 19th century unorthodox, 'grassroots' Chinese art. The itinerant Chinese artists, unimpeded by official convention and allowed to give their imagination free rein, have achieved a marvellous synthesis of originality, artistry and humour, sure to capture the heart of collectors and researchers alike.