Museum presents enduring legacy of Confucian culture

The Three Sages: A painting you can read

At first glance, this Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) painting depicts Confucius alongside his disciples Yan Hui and Zeng Shen. Look closer, and the folds of their robes reveal something unexpected: tiny handwritten passages from The Analects.

The painting incorporates text from 16 of the book's 20 chapters, including the famous opening line, "Is it not a pleasure to learn and to practice what you have learned?" written on Confucius' shoulder. At first glance, what appears to be fabric is, in fact, a carefully crafted blend of painting, calligraphy, and classical literature.