Listening to the Qin

Tang Yin’s ‘Listening to the Qin’ is a hanging scroll painted in ink and light color on silk. Created in the late 1400s to early 1500s, it belongs to the Ming dynasty. The qin, a seven-string instrument, is central to the scene. Cleveland Museum of Art.

The qin is known for its subtlety and refinement, favored by literati and scholars. It has been linked to Confucian philosophy, symbolizing wisdom. Despite its quiet sound, its cultural resonance is profound.

This painting is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The museum acquired it under the accession number 1977.199. The dimensions are not specified in the museum’s records.

Tang Yin was a Ming dynasty painter, calligrapher, and poet. Known as one of the Four Masters of Ming dynasty, he often depicted figures with elements from earlier Chinese art.

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, https://clevelandart.org/art/1977.199