October 8, or the 22nd of the eighth month of Chinese lunar calendar, marks the 17th solar term – Hanlu (Cold Dew), when temperature is much lower than that of White Dew and the dews are almost condensed into frost.
Hanlu is the perfect time to enjoy crab feast and appreciate chrysanthemums. The female crabs are mature with creamy roe and tender meat. A natural accompaniment to cold-natured crab is wine, which is even better if it is made of chrysanthemums. Drinking chrysanthemum wine is an ancient tradition with wind-dispersing, heat-clearing, liver-nourishing and eyesight-improving functions ever since the Han dynasty.
Artist：Unknown
Year：Song dynasty
Dimension：28.4×28 cm
Technique： Ink and color on silk
In the collection of the Palace Museum
Artist：Unknown
Year：Southern Song dynasty
Dimension：24×25.1 cm
Technique： Ink and color on silk
In the collection of the Palace Museum
Let’s enjoy the scrumptious crabs, sip the wine and appreciate the masterpieces of Qi Baishi, Chen Shizeng, Chen Dayu and other masters of traditional Chinese painting.
Crab, Chrysanthemums and Wine
Artist：边寿民 / Bian Shoumin
Year：1740
Dimension：89×170.5 cm
Technique：Ink on paper
In the collection of National Art Museum of China
Crabs and Wine
Artist：陈大羽 / Chen Dayu
Year：1976
Dimension：96×60 cm
In the collection of National Art Museum of China
Crab
Artist：齐白石 / Qi Baishi
Year：1920s
Dimension：50.6×46.3 cm
Technique：Ink on paper
In the collection of National Art Museum of China
A Basket of Crabs
Artist：齐白石 / Qi Baishi
Year：1940s
Dimension：67.6×34.5 cm
Technique：Ink on paper
In the collection of National Art Museum of China
Chrysanthemums and Crabs
Artist：齐白石 / Qi Baishi
Year：1880
Dimension：91.3×46.1 cm
Technique： Ink and color on paper
In the collection of National Art Museum of China
Chrysanthemums under the Fence
Artist：吴昌硕 / Wu Changshuo
Year：1890
Dimension：103.1×55.5 cm
Technique： Ink and color on paper
In the collection of National Art Museum of China
Chrysanthemums
Artist：陈师曾 / Chen Shizeng
Year：Modern era
Dimension：133.5×32.6 cm
Technique： Ink and color on paper
In the collection of the Palace Museum
Chrysanthemums in Vase
Artist：虚谷 / Xugu
Year：1882
Dimension：126.2×57.7 cm
Technique: Ink and color on paper
In the collection of the Palace Museum
