Nine Fish (painting) and Nine Wishes (calligraphy)

PAINTING BY ZHAO SHIGUANG (1916-2007), CALLIGRAPHY BY ZHAO SHAO'ANG (1905-1998) Nine Fish (painting) and Nine Wishes (calligraphy) Hanging scroll, ink and colours on paper Entitled and inscribed, signatures and seals of the artists 38 1/8. x 18 3/4. in. (97 x 47.6 cm.) 8 3/8. x 18 3/4. in. (21.3 x 47.6 cm.) Note; Zhao Shiguang's inscription on the the painting details members of the New Territories School Sports Association who commissioned the painting and calligraphy as a parting gift to Crozier in 1961. The text of a letter detailing the commissioning and dedication of the painting to Crozier reads as follows: ????????? New Territories School Sports Association C/O Yuen Long Public School Yuen along N.T. Tel: 01 357 PATRON The Director of Education The Hon D.J.S. Crozier C.M.G. Hong Kong, 6th April, 1961. Dear Dr. Crozier, For your interest I beg to send you some notes on the scroll with translations of the inscriptions on it. Yours respectfully, Chan Jim Fui (CHAN Jim Fui) “A Picture of the Nine Gold Fishes” Drawn by: Mr. CHIU Sai Kwong ??? Inscribed by: Mr. CHIU Siu Nong ??? The scroll is surmounted by two Chinese characters “??” signifying the “Nine Similarities”. The Chinese characters for “Fish” (?) and “Similarities” (?) are identical in pronunciation. The “Nine Similarities” were first mentioned in the ode of “Tin Bo” (??) in the “Chronicle of Odes” (??). They signify the heavenly benedictions pronounced by the people upon the King who ruled the country well and was beloved by all. However, these “Nine Similarities” do not apply exclusively to the ruler but to people of all classes alike. They stand for the blessings which we pray God to give to anyone whom we respect and love dearly. The first five “Similarities” suggest our respected ones will receive blessings which are as high or as big as: (1) a mountain (2) a great mound (3) a hill (4) a great stretch of land (5) a rising spring The remaining four “Similarities” hint at the wishes that our respected ones will receive increasing and endless blessings which are like (6) the new moon (7) the rising sun (8) the great mountain Nam Shan (??) which is a symbol of longevity and (9) the evergreen “pine” and “cypress” which gain in impressiveness with the passing of years.