Fan ZENG (1938) - Lot 79

Fan ZENG (1938) Illustration of the principle of innate goodness according to Mencius Watercolor and ink on paper Signed 33 x 33 cm Title: 孟子性善图 "Illustration of the principle of innate goodness according to Mencius" - 孟子 (Mèngzǐ): Mencius, the great Confucian philosopher of the 1st century B.C., considered the greatest successor of Confucius. - 性善 (xìng shàn): (human) nature is good - a central thesis of Mencius. central thesis of Mencius. - 图 (tú): image, painting, representation. Signed 十翼范增 "Fan Zeng of the Ten Wings". This is a direct reference to the "Ten Wings" (十翼), the classic commentaries attributed to Confucius on the Yi Jing (I Ching), the Book of Mutations. These commentaries form an essential part Confucian interpretation of this fundamental work.