|   Ch: Lofuxian. The story and pictorial theme of 
an immortal on Mt. Lofu (Jp: Rafusen) and the spirit of the plum tree. 
The legend goes that one day, the Sui  dynasty Zhao Shixiong (Jp: Chou 
Shiyuu ζβtY) climbed Mt. Lofu. Entering a wineshop to warm himself, he encountered 
a beautiful woman wearing a white gown and white face powder. Her fragrance and 
voice were equally sweet, upon exchanging wine cups with her, he fell into an 
intoxicated sleep. Awakened by the cold dawn wind, Zhao found himself under a 
blossoming plum tree and realized that the beautiful woman of the previous night 
was the spirit of the plum tree. Depictions typically show a beautiful Chinese 
court lady standing in front of a flowering plum, as in Iwasa Matabee's β²Ίq 
(1578-1650) well-known painting. |