# Three Purities

- By: Zhang Xiong (Chinese, 1803–1886)
- Date: 1878
- Medium: hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
- Classification: Painting
- Dimensions: Overall: 168 x 44 cm (66 1/8 x 17 5/16 in.)
- Culture: China, Xiaxing, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
- Credit line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James S. Reid
- Museum: [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://clevelandart.org/art/1999.193)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://invisiblenetwork.ai/thumbs/cma/1999.193/1999.193_web.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

As an artist, Zhang Xiong first attained fame in his native city Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. When the turmoil of the Taiping rebellion spread to his area, he decided to move to Shanghai where he became the elderly spokesman for the art scene in this newly rising metropolis. He is best remembered for his bird-and-flower paintings, of which this painting certainly is a fine example. "The Three Purities" refer to pine (symbol of longevity), plum blossoms (continual renewal of life), and bamboo (inner strength), plants that can endure and thrive during the winter season. A cluster of narcissus is a fitting complement as it is emblematic for immortality.