Shortly before the autumn of 1610 the renowned Ming dynasty official, painter, writer, and collector Mi Wanzhong (1570 1628) purchased a scholar s rock to add to his already famous collection. So mesmerized was he by this newly purchased wonder, which was said to eclipse all others he owned, that he commissioned his friend and artistic mentor Wu Bin (c. 1568 1621) to paint a scroll showing ten views of this fantastic rock. The result was a monumental scroll, more than thirty feet long, of such grandeur and originality that it is considered one of the most important Chinese paintings and a...