The Four Accomplishments

This pair of screens shows a group of elite Chinese gentlemen and their servants in the countryside. One man is considering his painting in progress, while another looks on as two of his companions play a board game called qi , known in Japan as Go. Nearby is a table set with a selection of books ready to be read and a qin , a type of stringed instrument, still wrapped in its cloth case waiting to be played. The mood is one of enjoyment balanced with formality. Historically, playing the qin and qi along with practicing or admiring calligraphy and painting were considered four skills essential for cultured men in China.