Dream Journey among Rivers and Mountains, no. 90

The scene embodies the literati tradition of a “dream journey,” a mental pilgrimage through nature intended to provide respite from official duties. By visualizing a tranquil trek among mountains and rivers, scholars could momentarily withdraw from the pressures of bureaucracy and immerse themselves in an idealized, contemplative world.

Executed in ink and light colour washes on silk, the work balances detailed brushwork for architectural elements with more suggestive strokes for cliffs and water. The artist employs a rhythmic alternation of dense foreground forms and open atmospheric space, creating a sense of depth that guides the eye along the winding paths.

Attributed to Cheng Zhengkui, a Qing‑dynasty painter known for his series of “Dream Journey” scrolls, this piece is catalogued as number 90 in the collection. Cheng is reputed to have produced around five hundred works in the series, though the exact number that survive remains uncertain.

During the Qing period, educated officials often cultivated a private practice of viewing landscape scrolls as a form of escapism. The “dream journey” motif reflected broader cultural values that prized personal reflection, harmony with nature, and the cultivation of inner tranquility amid governmental responsibilities.