Three Laughs at Tiger Brook (Translation)
青玉虎溪三笑圖山子 清中期 (Primary Title)
sculpture (Object Name)
Unknown (Artist)
This green jade boulder is engraved with three legendary Chinese sages in a mountain grove, a reference to the proverb of the three men laughing at the Tiger Brook. In the 4th century, Buddhist monk Huiyuan lived a reclusive life in Mount Lu, never venturing across the Tiger Brook nearby. One day after a visit from the poet Tao Yuanming and the Daoist master Lu Xiujing, he escorted them out, walking along while chatting attentively. Suddenly, they heard the roar of tigers, a warning that they had crossed the brook. They all laughed together at their unintentional journey. The story conveys a harmonious relationship among Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism—three teachings of ancient China.
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.