Wang Ziyou Visiting Dai Andao on a Snowy Evening 1661

Kano Tan'yū painted “Wang Ziyou Visiting Dai Andao on a Snowy Evening” during the Edo period in Japan, a time of relative peace and increasing social stratification. This ink on paper hanging scroll depicts a story of Wang Ziyou, a Jin dynasty calligrapher, who famously went to visit his friend Dai Andao during a snowstorm, only to turn back without seeing him, claiming, "I went on a whim and returned on a whim." The painting, while illustrating this historical anecdote, also reflects the values of the samurai class, which were concerned with themes of self-cultivation, social order, and the pursuit of knowledge and art. The monochrome palette emphasizes the stark beauty of the winter landscape, inviting viewers to contemplate the balance between social duty and personal inclination. What does it mean to pursue a connection and then decide against it? What is the value of intention versus action?