Lotus Peaks of Mount Huang (Huangshan)

Mei Qing was born to a family of wealth and influence at Xuancheng in Anhui, but was greatly affected by the Manchu invasions that brought down the Ming dynasty in 1644. His family was forced to flee their home to escape Manchu troops, and Mei Qing spent much of the remainder of his life travelling around China. In 1671 and 1690 he travelled to Mount Huang, a scenic and rugged mountain in his home province. Mount Huang is the topic of this painting. In this inscription he compared the thirty-six peaks of Mount Huang to lotus blossoms, he goes on to describe a scene with floating white clouds, deep secret valleys, and peaks radiating color. He signs the wors: Lotus blossoms peaks, after the brushwork of Master Ma Yuan, by Qu Shan, Meiqing.