Master of the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat (B. 1943) 2012

ink on cloud-dragon and xuan paper, with four seals of the artist: Shuisongshi shanfang  (‘The Water, Pine and Stone Retreat’), Youyi wuyi ('Intentionally or unintentionally'), Yangshi xianren (‘an idler who cherishes stones’) and Wuwei (‘without action’), mounted as hanging scroll

There is a 2cm. by 2cm. L-shape tear in the middle of the 'F' in the title of "Dragon Falls".
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

INSCRIPTION:

The Cascade Master would never tell me to what extent he had edited his staves.  ‘This one is natural’ he would proclaim, but with such a twinkle in his eye and a mischievous smile that I knew he did not use the term in any normal sense.  Those who have managed to transcend the mundane world of separation and description tend to find far more hidden power in the language, as they find more hidden power in everything once freed from the thrall of every ‘thing’.  The Cascade Master once said to me, while we spoke of immortality, that most people did not have the time to live forever;  a seemingly meaningless contradiction on the face of it and within the realm of explanations.  But to the Realized Man, immortality is achieved by stepping off the Stage of Time, beyond its restrictions, not by living forever.  With that simple shift in perspective, it becomes meaningful.  To him, living forever meant the same as transcending time: immortality in the blinking of an eye - commonplace among Realized Men but an incomprehensible contradiction in the mundane world.  I suspect that when he claimed the naturalness of his staves, he included himself, his chisels and whatever guided his heart and hand in discovering the inner secrets of each piece of gnarled vine as part of nature. 

Dragon Falls

was one of his older staves and a particular favourite.   It rested in a carefully stitched, deerskin bag, darkened with the grease of his hands and drifting smoke and soot from the fireplace.  It was one of his staves that settled most readily into my own hands, accepting me as its master on borrowed time, which was enough for me since, like the Cascade Master, I have little time for time.  Inscribed by the Master of the Water Pine and Stone Retreat 2012.