The Four Gentlemen: Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum (梅蘭竹菊四條屏)

This four-panel set portrays the "Four Gentlemen" (四君子) of Chinese literati tradition, plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, each representing a cardinal virtue prized by scholars. The winter plum embodies perseverance; the orchid, quiet refinement; the evergreen bamboo, integrity; and the autumn chrysanthemum, noble seclusion. Rendered in concise brushwork with subtle, restrained colors, each panel is accompanied by the artist's calligraphic inscription. Together they form a complete meditation on the moral ideals that have defined Chinese scholarly culture for centuries.