Rock -- Illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting (Shizhuzhai shuhua pu) before 1703

Editor: Here we have "Rock," an illustration by Hu Zhengyan from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual. It's so simple, almost meditative. What do you see in this stark depiction? Curator: It whispers of the scholar's rock tradition. For the literati, rocks weren't just geology; they were miniature landscapes, holding the essence of the universe. I see resilience, age, and the quiet strength of nature. Does it speak to you that way? Editor: I think I see that now! It felt so plain before, but now it seems to be teeming with stories. Curator: Exactly! And that's the magic, isn't it? A simple rock, holding a universe of meaning.