# Sheep and shepherd-boy under a willow

**Li Song** (late 12th-early 13th century)  
1368-1644  
Ink and color on silk  
H x W (image): 24.6 x 24.7 cm (9 11/16 x 9 3/4 in)

Courtesy of the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, F1909.244e. [The museum's record](https://asia.si.edu/object/F1909.244e/).

## About this work

Three sheep graze in one corner as a shepherd plays under a shady willow tree. The inscribed title of the painting reads "sanyang kaitai," or "three sheep bring prosperity." The symbolism becomes more complex because sheep (yang) is a rebus for the Dao trigram with three long lines that represents spring. Because the Chinese New Year is associated with spring, sheep are commonly used to symbolize blessings for the coming New Year.

_Text from the National Museum of Asian Art._

Li Song painted this in 1368-1644. It is now at the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC.

### How it was made

- **Ink and colour on silk.** Silk was sized with glue and alum so it would hold a crisp brushline, and mineral colours were built up in thin layers. The sheen of the weave still shows through.

### [Li Song](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/li-song)

late 12th-early 13th century

## Facts

- Type: Painting
- Culture: Chinese
- Real size: about 9½ × 9½ in (25 × 25 cm). The 8 × 10 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 14th century
- Movement: [Chinese painting](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/chinese-painting)
- Subjects: Frogs, Animals, Willow tree, Sheep, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), Fishing, Herding
- Colour: ochre
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1792.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1792/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/sheep-and-shepherd-boy-under-a-willow-si-fsg-f1909-244e).