Accession Number
1987/2.67

Title
Scholar with Roosters

Artist(s)
Ren Yi

Object Creation Date
circa 1860-1896

Medium & Support
ink and color on paper

Dimensions
4 ft. 4 1/2 in. x 29 11/16 in. (133.3 x 75.3 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Paul Wang in memory of Professor Wang Shang-yi

Label copy
Ren Yi’s painting of a scholar and two roosters alludes to the Jin dynasty (265–420) story of Song Zong, who kept a rooster in his study. One day the bird began conversing with his master like a cultured gentleman of profound knowledge; as a result of these conversations, Song became a famous scholar. In both the story and painting, the pairing of rooster and scholar symbolically represents the attainment of gentlemanly virtues. The rooster was thought to possess five: education (represented by its crest, which resembles a scholar’s hat); fierceness (symbolized by its sharp talons); bravery (because of its pugnacious disposition); benevolence (since it clucks when it discovers food); and trustworthiness (evidenced by its daily crowing at sunrise).
 
A prolific painter, Ren Yi (also known as Ren Bonian) was very popular in Shanghai during the second half of the nineteenth century. Along with three of his relatives (all named Ren and together known as the “Four Rens”), he was a forerunner of the so-called Shanghai school (haipai), which combined traditional and new—often Western—styles. This painting’s inscription gives modern viewers a vivid sense of the social interactions among scholar-artists on the Shanghai painting scene:
 
Would Your Excellency, my dear friend Xiaoting, kindly point out the inadequacies of this work? Ren Yi [a.k.a.] Bonian
 
Fall rotation 2016

Subject matter
This large painting of a scholar and two roosters alludes to the story of Song Zong of the Jin dynasty (265–420). Song kept a rooster in his study and one day the bird began conversing with its master like a cultured gentleman of profound knowledge. Song benefited greatly from his pet’s conversation and subsequently became a famous scholar.
In China a rooster is thought to possess five virtues: 1) education, represented by its crest which resembles a scholar’s hat; 2) fierceness, symbolized by its sharp talons; 3) bravery, because of its pugnacious disposition; 4) benevolence, as it clucks when it discovers food; and 5) trustworthiness, as evidenced by its daily crow at sunrise. The attainment of these virtues was thought to be the desire of every gentleman.

Physical Description
This large painting of a scholar and two roosters. The scholar sits with books piled behind him, while the roosters below crane their necks to look back at him. The calligraphy on the top right reads:
Would Your Excellency, my dear friend Xiaoting, kindly point out the inadequacies of this work? Ren Yi [a.k.a.] Bonian
There are also two seals of the artist and one collectors seal.

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Primary Object Type
hanging scroll

Additional Object Classification(s)
Painting

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
books
calligraphy (process)
ink
roosters (birds)
scholars