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Three Vinegar Tasters Scroll Paintings and Posters






About Three Vinegar Tasters

The Vinegar Tasters painting is the most popular painting related to taoism. It was made even more famous when the book "Tao of Pooh" mentioned this piece of art.

The following is a summary of the passages from the book...

Three men are standing around a vat of vinegar. Each one has dipped his finger into the vinegar and has tasted it. The expression on each man's face shows his individual reaction. Since the painting is allegorical, we are to understand that these are no ordinary vinegar tasters, but are instead representatives of the "Three Teachings" of China, and that the vinegar they are sampling represents the Essence of Life. The three masters are Confucius, Buddha, and Lao Zi, author of the oldest existing book of Taoism. The first has a sour look on his face, the second wears a bitter expression, but the third man is smiling.

To Confucius, life seemed rather sour. He believed that the present was out step with the past, and that the government of man on earth was out of harmony with the Way of Heaven, the government of, the universe. Therefore, he emphasized reverence for the Ancestors, as well as for the ancient rituals and ceremonies in which the emperor, as the Son of Heaven, acted as intermediary between limitless heaven and limited earth. Under Confucianism, the use of precisely measured court music, prescribed steps, actions, and phrases all added up to an extremely complex system of rituals, each used for a particular purpose at a particular time. A saying was recorded about Confucius: "If the mat was not straight, the Master would not sit." This ought to give an indication of the extent to which things were carried out under Confucianism.

To Buddha, the second figure in the painting, life on earth was bitter, filled with attachments and desires that led to suffering. The world was seen as a setter of traps, a generator of illusions, a revolving wheel of pain for all creatures. In order to find peace, the Buddhist considered it necessary to transcend "the world of dust" and reach Nirvana, literally a state of "no wind." Although the essentially optimistic attitude of the Chinese altered Buddhism considerably after it was brought in from its native India, the devout Buddhist often saw the way to Nirvana interrupted all the same by the bitter wind of everyday existence.

To Lao Zi, the harmony that naturally existed between heaven and earth from the very beginning could be found by anyone at any time, but not by following the rules of the Confucianists. As he stated in his Tao Te Ching, the "Tao Virtue Book," earth was in essence a reflection of heaven, run by the same laws - not by the laws of men. These laws affected not only the spinning of distant planets, but the activities of the birds in the forest and the fish in the sea. According to Lao Zi, the more man interfered with the natural balance produced and governed by the universal laws, the further away the harmony retreated into the distance. The more forcing, the more trouble. Whether heavy or light, wet or dry, fast or slow, everything had its own nature already within it, which could not be violated without causing difficulties. When abstract and arbitrary rules were imposed from the outside, struggle was inevitable. Only then did life become sour.

To Lao Zi, the world was not a setter of traps but a teacher of valuable lessons. Its lessons needed to be learned, just as its laws needed to be followed; then all would go well. Rather than turn away from "the world of dust," Lao Zi advised others to "join the dust of the world." What he saw operating behind everything in heaven and earth he called Tao (DAO), "the Way."

A basic principle of Lao Zi's teaching was that this Way of the Universe could not be adequately described in words, and that it would be insulting both to its unlimited power and to the intelligent human mind to attempt to do so. Still, its nature could be understood, and those who cared the most about it, and the life from which it was inseparable, understood it best.

Over the centuries Lao Zi's classic teachings were developed and divided into philosophical, monastic, and folk religious forms. All of these could be included under the general heading of Taoism. But the basic Taoism that we are concerned with here is simply a particular way of appreciating, learning from, and working with whatever happens in everyday life. From the Taoist point of view, the natural result of this harmonious way of living is happiness. You might say that happy serenity is the most noticeable characteristic of the Taoist personality, and a subtle sense of humor is apparent even in the most profound Taoist writings, such as the twenty-five-hundred-year-old Tao Te Ching. In the writings of Taoism's second major writer, Zhuang Zi, quiet laughter seems to bubble up like water from a fountain.

In the painting, why is Lao Zi smiling? After all, that vinegar that represents life must certainly have an unpleasant taste, as the expressions on the faces of the other two men indicate. But, through working in harmony with life's circumstances, Taoist understanding changes what others may perceive as negative into something positive. From the Taoist point of view, sourness and bitterness come from the interfering and unappreciative mind. Life itself, when understood and utilized for what it is, is sweet. That is the message of The Vinegar Tasters.
Purchase Golden Painting (New) Purchase Regular Painting Purchase Laminated Poster
three vinegar tasters golden scroll painting
Three Vinegar Tasters Scroll (Golden)
Price: USD $50.00

Direct order next available serial number:
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three vinegar tasters scroll painting
Three Vinegar Tasters Scroll (Classic)
Price: USD $45.00

Direct order next available serial number:
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vinegar tasters laminated poster
Three Vinegar Tasters Poster
Price: USD $8.00


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Free Shipping/Storage TubeMore information on The Vinegar Tasters Painting in Scroll Format
free storage tube
Note: For scrolls only, not posters.
The scroll is actually painted by a master painter in China and actually shipped from China with many layers of protective material. It is placed inside a plastic protective tubing (see image) and shipped inside another cardboard shipping box. The plastic tube doubles as a scroll transporter and for long term storage of the scroll. All the paintings come in a scroll style, so pictures below that do not look like a scroll are previous serials numbers that were not offered a scroll format. A scroll allows you to roll up the painting for storage or transport. The dimensions of the painting in the scroll is about 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall. If you include the scroll part, add another 2 feet to the height. If you wish to purchase more than one, please click on the "Buy Now" button separately for each purchase.


Here are the immortal people who have limited serialized paintings of the "Three Vinegar Tasters" (Golden Edition) by a master painter in China.
three vinegar tasters (golden) serial number 1

Three Vinegar Tasters - Serial #1


David Peterson
Evergreen Park, Illinois

three vinegar tasters golden scroll painting
Three Vinegar Tasters Scroll (Golden)
Three Vinegar Tasters (Golden) SCROLL
Price: USD $50.00

Direct order next available serial number:
ALL SOLD OUT!

Dimensions: about 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall for painted portion.
Add 2 feet to the height if scroll portion included.
three vinegar tasters (golden) serial number 2

Three Vinegar Tasters - Serial #2


Rena Wagner
Berlin, Germany

#3: David Carbo Saladrigas, Barcelona, Spain
#4: Malcom Levi, Memphis, Tennessee
#5: Virginia Matthews, Seattle, Washington
#6: Jan MacIntyre, St. Joeseph, Michigan
#7: C. Epperson, Tampa, Florida
#8: S. Mindlin, Great Neck, New York
#9: J. Randall, Lebanon, New Hampshire
#10: J. Odling, Los Angeles, California
#11: F. Fredriksson, Orsa, Sweden
#12: D. Salko, Brunswick, Maine
#13: J. Gunderson, Denver, Colorado
#14: S. Ford, Columbus, Ohio
#15: K. Hanka, Houston, Texas
#16: D. Christensen, Queensland, Australia
#17: C. Hoechstetter, Boulder, Colorada
#18: J. Dalby, Leesburg, Virginia
#19: B. Sheumaker, Garden Grove, California
#20: J. Suydam, Syracuse, New York
#21: B. Wolovich, Sewickley, Pennsylvania
#22: R. Gordon, Windsor, Connecticut
#23: J. Leonardis, South Plainfield, New Jersey
#24: D. S. Turner, Prucellville, Virgina
#25: N. McElrath, Fallon, Nevada
#26: L. M. Cowden, Dallax, Texas
#27: T. Rhodes, Alberta, Canada
#28: R. Aquino, Keaau, Hawaii
#29: B. B. Baker, San Angelo, Texas
#30: N. Glemming, Colorado Springs, Colorado
#31: K. Smith, Melbourne, Florida
#32: P. H. Perry, Schenectady, New York
#33: C. R. Reichmann, Bellevue, Nebraska
#34: C. A. Burlingame, Verona, Wisconsin
#35: L. Deater, Kittery Point, Maine
#36: C. Lens, Zoetemmer Netherlands
#37: H. Lavu, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
#38: S. Feldman, Cambridge, Massachusetts
#39: D. Occoquan, Durham, North Carolina
#40: G. Rowett, British Columbia, Canada
#41: D. Christensen, Minneapolis, Minnesota
#42: J. Ruth, Lehighton, Pennsylvania
#43: U. Julien, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
#44: S. Richards, Nashua, New Hampshire
#45: S. Lewis, Kent, United Kingdom
#46: D. Heise, Arcata, California
#47: L. deBoisblanc, New Orleans, Louisiana
#48: J. Lockard, Centreville, Virginia
#49: D. Penza, Rochester, Minnesota




three vinegar tasters serial number 1

3 Vinegar Tasters - Serial #1


Robert Schwartz, Jr
Cinnaminson, New Jersey, USA

three vinegar tasters scroll painting
Three Vinegar Tasters Scroll (Classic)
Three Vinegar Tasters Scroll (Classic)
Price: USD $45.00

Direct order next available serial number:
ALL SOLD OUT!


3 vinegar tasters

Three Vinegar Tasters POSTER
Price: USD $8.00

Purchase a poster online:
All Sold Out!

Note that this is a laminated POSTER, not a scroll. The coloring of this digital reproduction may vary from image shown.
Dimensions: 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall approximate.
Click on the "Buy Now" button for the scroll painting instead of this one if a scroll is what you want.


three vinegar tasters serial number 2

3 Vinegar Tasters - Serial #2


Chris Joiner
Kihei, Hawaii, USA

three vinegar tasters serial number 3

3 Vinegar Tasters - Serial #3


David Heflin
Clarksville, Tennessee, USA

three vinegar tasters serial number 4

3 Vinegar Tasters - Serial #4


Michael Rotman
Pine Mountain Club, California, USA

three vinegar tasters serial number 5

3 Vinegar Tasters - Serial #5


Andrea Avila
Burbank, California, USA
The following are the first 100 owners of the classic limited edition serialized paintings of the "Three Vinegar Tasters" by a master painter in China. Purchase now to get your own serialized version of the Vinegar Tasters. To see more serial numbers of other owners, visit Donors and more owners of Vinegar Tasters scroll painting.


#6: Jay Ronca, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
#7: Martin Ho, Denver, Colorado
#8: Andy Quintilian, Baltimore, Maryland
#9: Jennifer Welsh, Imperial, California
#10: Brett D. Wheat-Simms, Chickasha, Oklahoma
#11: Grant Higgins, Dearborn Heights, Michigan
#12: W Stacy Huntington, Glendale, Arizona
#13: Marisa Hart, Ann Arbor, Michigan
#14: An Milliron, Augusta, Georgia
#15: Michelle Lin, Cleveland, Ohio
#16: Peter Poutiatine, San Anselmo, California
#17: Steve Drum, Valrico, Florida
#18: Lee Juvarkar, Miami, Florida
#19: Steve Drum, Valrico, Florida
#20: Robert A. Waller, Pasadena, California
#21: Rachel Burr, Troy, Michigan
#22: Lee Juvarkar, Miami, Florida
#23: Dustin Williams, Moody, Alabama
#24: Jill Heinrich, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
#25: Steve Drum, Valrico, Florida
#26: Kristine Heinrich, Concord, North Carolina
#27: Michele Tringali, Baltimore, Maryland
#28: Lee Juvarkar, Miami, Florida
#29: Kari Schmidt, Washington DC
#30: Curt Cook, San Antonio, Texas
#31: L. Challice, Banffshire, United Kingdom
#32: A. Keto, Raleigh, North Carolina
#33: M. Blume, Bad Vilbel, Germany
#34: C. Miller, Port St. Lucie, Florida
#35: R. Meyer, Kendall Park, New Jersey
#36: J. Lertpatthanakul, Pembroke, Massachusetts
#37: K. Cole, West Chester, Ohio
#38: C. Joiner, Pitman, New Jersey
#39: C. Thompson, Lafayette, Louisiana
#40: J. Minick, Evansville, Indiana
#41: S. Davis, College Station, Texas
#42: R. Farshler, Austin, Texas
#43: S. Romine, Kelseyville, California
#44: R. White, Cleveland, Ohio
#45: S. Feehan, Perry, Georgia
#46: J. R Cottrill, Brunswick, Australia
#47: P. Hitzelberger, Royal Oak, Michigan
#48: E. Smith, Chantilly, Virginia
#49: D. Malychansy, Milwaukee, Wisconson
#50: S. Israels, British Columbia, Canada
#51: J. Flyagina, New York, New York
#52: S. O'Brien, Temecula, California
#53: J. Clark, Kennesaw, Georgia
#54: G. Tally, Wichita Falls, Texas
#55: K. O'Connor, Loveland, Ohio
#56: S. Patel, New York, New York
#57: K. Rozelle, Irvine, California
#58: N. Carter, Los Angeles, California
#59: C. Magaro, Marysville, Pennsylvania
#60: J. Towles, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
#61: J. Flyagina, New York, New York
#62: M. Lewin, Corpus Christi, Texas
#63: A. Shah, Atlanta, Georgia
#64: D. Fulton, Las Vegas, Nevada
#65: J. Andersen, Glendale Heights, Illinois
#66: J. Tribby, Palo Alto, California
#67: D.Bidwell, Houston, Texas
#68: L. Passue-llo, Clearwater, Florida
#69: B. Fieser, Bradenton, Florida
#70: J. Dabian, Chattanooga, Tennessee
#71: L. Ghiselli, Denver, Colorado
#72: R. S. Cockerham, Crowley, Louisiana
#73: J. Caballero, Pembroke Pines, Florida
#74: J. Pierangeli, Seattle, Washington
#75: K. Millard, South Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
#76: D. Floyd, Marietta, Georgia
#77: P. Windsor, Burbank, California
#78: A. Cavina, Clemmons, North Carolina
#79: J. Kittle, Los Gatos, California
#80: T. King, Decatur, Georgia
#81: H. Riley, Newport News, Virginia
#82: J. Morrissey, Charlottesville, Virginia
#83: R. Fazel, Las Cruces, New Mexico
#84: R. Hann, Canandaigua, New York
#85: K. Spiegel, Washington DC
#86: J. Janosky, Reading, Pennsylvania
#87: C. Ortloff, North Mankato, Minnesota
#88: J. Hein, Rex, Georgia
#89: S. Flores, Midland, Texas
#90: R. Bagley, Santa Monica, California
#91: Y. Kuo, San Francisco, California
#92: M. Isberg, San Diego, California
#93: C. Lueders, Bonn, Germany
#94: M. Bruce, Westerville, Ohio
#95: S. LeBlanc, New Orleans, Louisiana
#96: E. Jenkins, Midvale, Utah
#97: A. F. Polard, Topanga, California
#98: E. Franks, Cardiff, United Kingdom
#99: M. Turnquist, Lafayette, Colorado
#100: A. Alvarado, Mesa, Arizona


36 states (plus Washington DC) from USA have a Vinegar Tasters scroll. Also one to each of FPO, AP and FPO, AE addresses. Only 14 more states left. 15 countries (including USA) have purchased a scroll.

Interesting Statistics
State (U.S.A.)Number(s) Sold
California47
Florida19
Texas17
Pennsylvania14
Colorado11
Georgia11
Virginia11
Washington11
Michigan10
New York10
New Jersey9
Ohio9
Illinois8
North Carolina8
Massachusetts7
Utah7
Louisiana5
Indiana4
Maryland4
Nevada4
Oregon4
Washington DC4
Alabama3
Hawaii3
Minnesota3
Missouri3
New Hampshire3
Oklahoma3
Alaska2
Arizona2
Kansas2
New Mexico2
Tennessee2
West Virginia2
Wisconson2
Kentucky1
South Carolina1
Fleet Post Office, Armed Forces Pacific1
Fleet Post Office, Armed Forces Europe1
CountryNumber(s) Sold
United Kingdom18
Canada12
Germany4
The Netherlands4
Australia2
Finland2
France2
Belgium1
Bulgaria1
Israel1
Spain1
Sweden1
Switzerland1
Turkey1



Here are the immortal people who have limited serialized paintings of the "Three Vinegar Tasters" in Robes by a master painter in China. This particular version of the "vinegar tasters" emulates the original painting made by Kano Motonobu (1476-1559) during the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) in Japan. Kano Motonobu is the son of Kano Masanobu, who founded the Kano school style of painting. The original painting is currently in a private collection.
three vinegar tasters serial number 1

Three Vinegar Tasters - Serial #1

Richard Garman
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania



#2: Michael Fowler, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#3: Fons Martens, Limburg, Belgium
#4: Luc van Renterghem, Moerbeke Waas, Belgium
#5: Donald Bill, Warner Robins, Georgia
#6: Laurene Snapp, Stuart, Florida
#7: Alan C. Hogue, Texarkana, Texas
#8: S. Sankaran, San Francisco, California
#9: J. Pendleton, New Castle, Virginia
#10: K. Roden, Madison, Alabama
#11: J. Maher, Shrewbury, Massachusetts
#12: A. Baldacci, Coos Bay, Oregon
#13: P. Himmelreich, Nashville, Tennessee
#14: A. Grisco, Oceanside, California


#0: Ronald Faircloth, Salinas, California


three vinegar tasters in robes
Three Vinegar Tasters (in Robes) SCROLL
Price: USD $35.00

Direct order next available serial number:
ALL SOLD OUT!


3 vinegar tasters

Three Vinegar Tasters in Robes POSTER

An alternative version. Note that this is a POSTER, not a scroll. The coloring of this digital reproduction may vary from image shown.
Dimensions: 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall approx.
Click on the "Buy Now" button for the scroll painting instead of this one if a scroll is what you want.


The following is a video describing the different Vinegar Tasters paintings...



History

Three Sages

The history of the Vinegar Tasters painting starts with the three sages: Confucius, Lao Zi, and Buddha, who each founded a philosophy or religion that affected China profoundly (Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, respectively). Paintings depicting these "Three Sages" together later became very popular among artists.

  • Confucianism: Confucius (552 BCE to 479 BCE)
  • Taoism: Lao Zi (around 400 BCE to 300 BCE)
  • Buddhism: Buddha (around 500 BCE)
During the Zhou Dynasty in China (1121 BCE to 255 BCE), three important sages left their wisdom that later affected a lot of people in the course of history in China. This meeting of the "Three Sages" together is hypothetical because Buddha was in India (not China) at the time.

Three Laughers

Around 1000 years later, paintings with the subject "Three Laughers Over Tiger Ravine" became popular (similar theme to "Three Sages"). However, the three people in this "Three Laughers" painting are now Tao YuanMing (a poet: representing Confucianism), Lu XiuJing (a Taoist scholar: representing Taoism), and HuiYuan (a monk: representing Buddhism).
  • Confucianism: Tao YuanMing (365 CE to 427 CE)
  • Taoism: Lu XiuJing (406 CE to 477 CE)
  • Buddhism: HuiYuan (334 CE to 416 CE)
During the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China (317 CE to 420 CE), Tao YuanMing and Lu XiuJing visited HuiYuan at the DongLin temple on the slope of Mount Lu (in JiangXi Province near Lake PoYang). HuiYuan religiously vowed never to cross the stone bridge over the Tiger Ravine because it leaves the Buddhist monastery compound. However, in deep conversation with Tao YuanMing and Lu XiuJing about Confucianism and Taoism, HuiYuan crossed the bridge with them inadvertently. Upon realizing this, the three laughed out loud. This meeting is hypothetical because if they actually met together, the oldest that Lu XiuJing could have been was 10 years old.

Three Tasters

About another 600 years later, paintings with the subject "Three Sages Tasting Wine" became popular (similar theme to "Three Laughers"). However, the three people in this "Three Tasters" painting are now Su DongPo (representing Confucianism), Huang ShanGu (representing Taoism), and FoYin LiaoYuan (representing Buddhism).
  • Confucianism: Su DongPo (1039 CE to 1112 CE)
  • Taoism: Huang ShanGu (1045 CE to 1105 CE)
  • Buddhism: FoYin LiaoYuan (1032 CE to 1098 CE)
During the Northern Song Dynasty in China (960 CE to 1127 CE), FoYin LiaoYuan brought out a large vat of peach wine to welcome Su DongPo and Huang ShanGu visiting him in JinShan Monastery (in JiangSu Province, within ZhenJiang city). The three tasted the peach wine with fingers, and the translation became "Three Vinegar Tasters" because it was similar to vinegar in taste. Peaches are a native fruit of China and is very popular there. Shou Xing (Longevity God) often carries a golden peach to represent immortality.

three sages of china

Three Sages

Artist: Ding YunPeng (1547-1628)
Item Location: Palace Museum, Beijing, China
Style: Ming Dynasty of China
three laughers over tiger ravine

Three Laughers

Artist: Kishi Renzan (1805-1859)
Date: 1846
Item Location: Ryukokuji Temple, Hidaka-cho, Toyooka City, Japan
Style: Kishi School of Kyoto, Japan
three peach wine tasters

Three Tasters

Artist: Reisai (15th century)
Item Location: Umezawa Memorial Hall, Tokyo, Japan
three laughers of tiger ravine

The Three Laughers of Tiger Ravine (虎渓三笑図)

Artist: Soga Shohaku (1730-1781)
Date: 18th Century
Item Location: Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Style: Muromachi era painter Soga Jasoku

Description: The three laughers are Huiyuan (慧遠), Tao Qian (陶潜), and Lu Xiujing (陸修靜)





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