Art of Bada Shanren offers window on his times

A descendant of the Ming imperial clan who first became a Buddhist monk and then a Taoist priest, Bada Shanren represents both an intriguing life story and a unique art style that inspired generations of artists who followed him.

Visiting the place where he once dwelled as a Taoist priest, we are able both to find some clues of the master painter's vicissitudes in life and appreciate some of his best art.

The Bada Shanren Memorial Museum sits quietly in suburban Nanchang in Jiangxi province. The site is tranquil in a natural setting, including a lotus pond, plenty of ancient trees and bamboo groves.