Cleveland Museum of Art

Herdboys and Buffalo in Landscapes

Guo Min

Date

1200s

Medium

Pair of hanging scrolls; ink on silk

Culture

China, Qixian, Yuan dynasty (1271-1368)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Herdboys tend their buffalo in a bucolic landscape by a winding stream. Guo Min emphasizes the massive forms and mighty power of the animals, transforming them into forces of nature. The poem in the first scroll reads: "The bulls are engaging in fighting, Cautiously, each seeks to overcome the other. The herdboy calmly stands by. Untying his belt, he silently watches." The poem in the second scroll reads: "Together, they wade through the middle of the stream, Mindless of perils in the journey. The grass grows tall in the village ahead, While the mist and rain spread far and wide." Tending water buffalos has traditionally been the task of young boys and can still be seen in rural areas of Southern China today.

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