Hidden Messages

1300 C.E.

Instead of writing down their feelings about the Mongols and getting punished, the Literati, Chinese painters, have thought of a creative way to express their feelings through painting.

Literati's aren't getting caught with the paintings because their protest isn't obvious. In fact, it is almost impossible for the Mongols to tell that the artists are in protest at all. Many paintings that are under this protest share common symbols such as plum trees, bamboo, and birds.

Also, most paintings don't use people instead the painters have animals representing the people. For example, in one painting there is a hawk ignoring a pheasant which has wandered to the foot of the tree it is on and the hawk is unaware of the danger it is approaching. In this painting the hawk is representing the Literati who are refusing to serve to the pheasant, which represents the Mongols. The fact that the Literati are not listening to the Mongols it shows how they are rejecting their opportunity to have a public life.

As it appears, what the Literati's are doing is a subtle and safe way to protest against the Mongols and is the Literati's way of hope and a way to strive to never go under Mongol rule.