Bada Shanren, originally named Zhu Da, was born into the Ming royal lineage in 1626. Following the Ming dynasty’s collapse in 1644, he sought solace in a Buddhist monastery for many years. Later, he embraced secular life as a renowned painter, crafting works that emphasize bold simplicity. His masterpiece, ‘Flowers and Birds,’ comprised twelve ink-on-paper leaves and recently fetched HK$61.9 million at Christie’s Hong Kong auction.
