Cloud Boat on the Yellow Sea《黄海云舫图轴》

Dao Wu (ca. 1646–1719)
Known by numerous aliases, including Chuanwu, Xuezhuang, Tongyuan, Xingtang, and Tiexie Daoren, Dao Wu was a monk, painter, and poet of the early Qing Dynasty. A native of Chuzhou (modern-day Huai’an, Jiangsu), he was a prominent figure in the Xin’an School of painting. Ordained under Da Yi at Nan’an Temple in Guanyin Temple, Huai’an, Dao Wu later settled in Huangshan, where he lived for 30 years at Duluo Temple, also known as “Pipeng” or later renamed “Yunfang.” Revered as “Master Yunfang Xuezhuang,” he combined spiritual devotion with artistic practice.

Though Dao Wu’s works often centered on the majestic landscapes of Huangshan, relatively few of these paintings have survived. His art reflects a deep connection with nature and a mastery of spatial composition.

“Cloud Boat on the Yellow Sea” (1705)
Created in the 44th year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, this painting was a gift for Dao Wu’s friend Xi Weng, accompanied by an inscribed poem. The composition prominently features Dao Wu’s secluded residence, the “cloud boat,” situated amidst the grandeur of Huangshan. Capturing the essence of the scenery through sketching from life, the painting balances bold brushstrokes with delicate detailing, blending dry and wet techniques.

Dao Wu’s dynamic interplay of ink and color conveys the imposing beauty of Huangshan with both precision and imagination. Despite the complexity of the composition, the interplay of coarse and fine elements creates a harmonious whole, offering a majestic yet personal vision of the mountain’s timeless allure. Seals bearing the inscriptions “Huangshan Savage” and “Xuezhuang Mingwu” authenticate the piece, underscoring Dao Wu’s identity as both artist and recluse.

道悟（约1646—1719），俗姓不详，一名传悟，号雪庄、通源，又署惺堂、沧溟、源道者、黄山野人、清溪后学、铁鞋道人等，楚州（今江苏淮安）人。清初画僧、诗僧，“新安派”名家。早年从淮安观音院南庵大依剃度，康熙二十八年（1689）九月到歙西潜口，与汪士鈜相见，旋入黄山，居“兜率庵”。此庵亦名“皮蓬”，后更名“云舫”，时人称“云舫雪庄大师”。住山达三十年，善画黄山之景，传世作品相对较少。

此《黄海云舫图轴》是道悟于康熙四十四年（1705）为友人溪翁先生所作，并有题诗。款左钤有朱文“黄山野人”、白文“雪庄名悟”。画中描绘的是他居住的云舫幽境，为写生所得，空间感强烈，用笔快慢有致，枯润结合，据真实风景特征描绘，不拘泥于某家某法。画面虽然较为繁复，但粗细相映，墨彩交融，颇具气势，将黄山的雄奇秀美表现得别有特色。