In the golden autumn of Suzhou, a fallen leaf slowly falls, gently covering the roof of a dilapidated studio. In this studio lived a once brilliant painter, his name - Tang Bohu.
Today, his life has become lonely and miserable, suffering from poverty and illness. In this fall, his days seem to be more difficult than usual.
Tang Bohu, a genius of the Ming Dynasty, has a bumpy fate in his life. He was once the best talent, but he was caught up in political turmoil. The lofty ambitions of the past can now only be vented in this small studio.
And his son, the one who once carried all his hopes and dreams, has long since passed away, leaving him alone to face this cruel world. From the shattering dream of the imperial examination to the seclusion of art on that spring day, Tang Bohu stood in his small courtyard, looking into the distance.
In the yard, the flowers and trees are luxuriant, and the birds are singing and fragrant, but his mood is like the end of spring, gradually withering. Thinking of his son, who died early six years ago, his heart is extremely sad.
But how do we sustain our lives? Tang Bohu didn't answer, just quietly turned around and continued his painting. Time passed little by little, and Tang Bohu's life was almost isolated from the outside world.
Every day, he would be in his small courtyard, either splashing ink or reciting poetry. His paintings are piled up, and his books are rolling in like a river. But his heart seems to stay forever at the moment when he loses his career, unable to move forward.
Tang Bohu's love for calligraphy and painting gradually became a gap in his relationship with his wife. He indulges in his art world every day, while life at home is strained by his focus.
His wife watched his persistence, and the dissatisfaction in her heart continued to accumulate. Finally one night, when Tang Bohu was immersed in creation again, his wife's emotions exploded.
She rushed into the study and said with a look of anger on her face, "Did you just give up our lives? Tang Bohu raised his head and replied indifferently: "My life is my paintings, my poems." ”
His wife looked at him, her eyes moistened, and asked, "What about me?" What am I in your life? Tang Bohu didn't answer, just silently lowered his head and continued his creation.
This quarrel became a turning point in the relationship between the two. Soon after, his wife decided to leave Tang Bohu and marry someone else. Tang Bohu looked at the back of her leaving, but there was no trace of turmoil in his heart.
He watched her go away, then silently returned to his study, where he continued his paintings and poems. His life is his art, his world.
After Tang Bohu's wife left, his rhythm of life became more and more quiet. He took painting and writing poetry as the core of his life, and his communication with the outside world was almost minimal.
Despite his fame, he didn't care about it, and his world consisted only of pen and ink, canvas, and paper. Seeking the salvation of art in the midst of difficulties was the transformation of Tang Bohu's life at the age of 30.
In order to make ends meet, he began to set up a painting stall on the bustling streets of Suzhou. Every day, he would bring his paintings to the busiest part of the market and wait quietly for the arrival of customers.
There was an endless stream of ** on the streets, but most people just hurried by, and did not pay much attention to Tang Bohu's paintings. Occasionally, someone stops, just casually glances, and continues their journey.
However, Tang Bohu did not give up, he insisted on setting up a stall in the same place every day, and gradually his paintings began to attract some regular customers.
In these challenging days, Tang Bohu's painting style gradually changed. He is no longer limited to the court painting style of the past, but pursues a deeper emotional expression and life observation.
His paintings often depict scenes of ordinary people's lives, such as bustling markets and quiet alleys, which make his works more relatable.
One spring day in 1505, Tang Bohu was setting up a stall on the street, when a woman named Shen Jiuniang walked up to his painting stall. Shen Jiuniang was dressed plainly, but she exuded a distinctive temperament.
She stood quietly in front of the art stall, admiring Tang Bohu's paintings intently.
His gaze finally fixed on a painting depicting the charm of the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River, and he asked softly, "Did you create this painting?" Shen Jiuniang nodded and replied, "Yes, do you like it?" ”
Tang Bohu smiled slightly and said, "I like it very much, your paintings have an indescribable sense of intimacy and strength." Shen Jiuniang smiled slightly and replied, "Then give it to me." ”
From that day on, Shen Jiuniang could always be seen in Tang Bohu's painting stall. They talked, shared their understanding of art, and Shen Jiuniang's unique perspective always inspired Tang Bohu's new creations.
As time passed, the relationship between the two grew deeper. In the autumn of the year they met, Tang Bohu and Shen Jiuniang decided to enter the palace of marriage. Although their wedding was simple and did not have complicated ceremonies, they had the sincere blessings of several relatives and friends.
After marriage, their life is still simple, but full of warmth and happiness.
Tang Bohu is still splashing ink on the street, and Shen Jiuniang often accompanies him, helps him organize his painting tools, and tastes the artistic conception of the painting with him. During this time, art and love became the main theme of their lives.
In 1509, Suzhou suffered a rare flood that flooded fields and washed away houses, making this water city in the south of the Yangtze River a sea in an instant.
For Tang Bohu and his family, the disaster has brought unprecedented challenges.
The impact of the flood has caused the street to plummet, and Tang Bohu's street painting business has been severely hit. What was once a bustling market is now deserted, and his paintings are almost unattended.
In addition, the floods have caused some damage to their homes, making their living conditions even more difficult. In such a difficult period, Shen Jiuniang became Tang Bohu's most solid backing.
She does her best to find food in the market every day, despite the severe scarcity of supplies in the market. She also helped Tang Bohu repair his home damaged by the flood, even though he was exhausted herself.
In the difficult situation of life, Shen Jiuniang always remained optimistic and brightened their lives with small happiness. In the long night, she lit candles, accompanied Tang Bohu to wield a paintbrush, or recited poems for him, so that these warm moments could warm their hearts.
Tang Bohu was worried in his heart, but Shen Jiuniang's company made him insist on artistic creation. However, the years are merciless, and Shen Jiuniang's body is getting weaker and weaker. Long hours of toil and lack of nutrition left her seriously ill.
Tang Bohu tried his best to find doctors and medicines, but the limited medical conditions in that era, coupled with the poverty of his family, made the cost a heavy burden.
Shen Jiuniang's condition became worse and worse, but she still insisted on working for her family until the last moment of her life. She lay on the bed, holding Tang Bohu's hand tightly, and said to him weakly but firmly: "Your paintings will definitely be famous all over the world." ”
Tang Bohu held her hand tightly, with tears in his eyes, but did not answer. In the end, Shen Jiuniang closed her eyes permanently due to overwork and illness, leaving Tang Bohu and her young daughter Taosheng to rely on each other.
The death of Shen Jiuniang brought great trauma to Tang Bohu's soul, and his paintings became deeper and more dignified. In this year, Zhu Chenhao, the king of Ning, sent an invitation to Tang Bohu, hoping that he could go to Nanchang and provided him with a place to live.
For Tang Bohu, who is living in difficulty, this is an opportunity that is difficult to refuse. However, behind this lies King Ning's rebellious plans, and he hopes to use Tang Bohu's talent to help him.
After Tang Bohu arrived in Nanchang, King Ning specially prepared an elegant residence for him, and frequently invited him to court gatherings, trying to let him join his camp.
At these gatherings, King Ning often asked Tang Bohu for advice on how to govern the country, showing his enthusiasm for politics. However, Tang Bohu soon sensed King Ning's true intentions, and he knew that once he became involved in this political struggle, he would face unforeseen dangers.
Therefore, he took an extreme approach to protect himself - feigning madness. He behaved strangely in King Ning's court, sometimes laughing or crying suddenly, sometimes babbling gibberish, and even showing a gaffe at the court banquet.
This behavior made King Ning confused and uneasy. At first, King Ning didn't believe that Tang Bohu was really crazy, so he sent someone to secretly observe Tang Bohu's behavior. However, as time passed, Tang Bohu's "madness" became more and more realistic, and even King Ning's spies began to believe that Tang Bohu had indeed lost his mind.
At this critical moment, King Ning no longer trusted Tang Bohu and did not include him in his plan for rebellion. In 1515, King Ning decided to let Tang Bohu leave Nanchang and return to his original life.
In this year, Tang Bohu returned to Suzhou to continue his quiet life as a painter. In 1519, King Ning's rebellion ended in failure and he was executed by Ming Wuzong. And Tang Bohu successfully avoided this political turmoil because of his previous behavior of pretending to be crazy and survived.
After returning to Suzhou, he continued his artistic creation, and although life was still full of hardships, he was able to paint and teach his daughter Taosheng with peace of mind. After experiencing the ups and downs of life, Tang Bohu's later life has undergone significant changes.
He let go of his former edge and arrogance, and became more peaceful and restrained. He began to take the initiative to repair his relationship with old friends who had been estranged by his pride or trouble.
He often visited these friends, shared his paintings and poems, and gradually regained their understanding and support.
At this stage, Tang Bohu was gradually influenced by Buddhist concepts, and finally devoted himself to Buddhism, calling himself "Liuru Jushi". As a result, his lifestyle changed, tending to be simple and restrained.
He was frequently involved in Buddhist activities, studied Buddhism, and incorporated Buddhist elements into his paintings, giving his artworks a deeper and more serene beauty. Despite living in poverty, Tang Bohu did not abandon painting.
He often creates new paintings at home, which often reveal otherworldly serenity and harmony. His paintings no longer only depict the bustling market, but also depict natural scenery and Buddhist themes, such as landscapes, Zen monasteries, and Bodhi trees.
During this period, Tang Bohu's daughter Taosheng gradually entered her youth. Under the influence of her father since she was a child, she was exposed to a wealth of artworks, inherited her father's artistic talent, and was full of love for painting.
Tang Bohu often taught Tao Sheng to paint, and the two worked together in the studio. Gradually, Tao Sheng began to show outstanding artistic talent. In 1524, Tang Bohu's physical condition began to deteriorate.
The flame of his life gradually extinguished, but he continued to work in the studio until the last moment of his life. When he was 54 years old, Tang Bohu died of illness, leaving behind his 17-year-old daughter Taosheng.
After his father's death, Tao Sheng chose to carry on his legacy and continue to work in the field of art. Soon after, she tied the knot with Wang Yang, the son of Tang Bohu's former friend Wang Pet.