shan shui en

Chinese landscapes typically depicting mountains and bodies of water, often in an allegorical manner. Shan shui produced during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127) was monumental in scale, while Southern Song (1127-1279) shan shui was more intimate, providing horizontal, misty views of lakes and rivers. Shan shui can assume multiple symbolic dimensions, serving as a microcosmic illustration of the universe or a form of allegorical human portraiture.