The Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains – Xu Beihong

“The Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains” stands as an enduring emblem of perseverance and unwavering resolve—a fable recounted in the venerable Book of Lieh-tzu, dating back to the fourth century BC. Retold by Liu Xiang in the first century BC and subsequently championed by Mao Zedong in 1945, this narrative encapsulates a profound moral lesson: that even seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome through steadfast determination. Xu Beihong’s monumental oil painting captures this essence with breathtaking precision and emotional depth. Painted during his formative years in India—a period profoundly influenced by the humanist philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi—the artwork embodies Xu's commitment to blending Western artistic innovation with the rich traditions of Chinese culture. Invited by Tagore to lecture at Calcutta University, Xu embarked on a journey that would not only broaden his artistic horizons but also solidify his dedication to portraying the spirit of resistance and fortitude within his canvases. The painting’s genesis reflects this ethos—a deliberate invocation of Gandhi's moral compass as a guiding force for artistic expression. The composition itself is striking: a panoramic vista depicting a group of naked men laboriously dismantling colossal granite boulders. These figures, rendered in Xu’s signature style of synthetic realism—characterized by meticulous detail and a harmonious blend of Romanticism and Expressionism—represent not merely physical exertion but also the collective will to confront adversity head-on. The artist skillfully employs a fixed-point perspective, drawing viewers into the scene's dramatic unfolding and emphasizing the monumental scale of the undertaking. Xu’s masterful use of color contributes significantly to the painting’s emotive power, favoring earthy hues that evoke the rugged beauty of the Himalayan landscape—a deliberate homage to Gandhi’s homeland. Furthermore, the symbolism embedded within “The Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains” transcends its literal depiction. The fable itself speaks to the importance of unwavering faith in one's convictions and the belief that even seemingly impossible goals can be achieved through persistent effort. Xu Beihong elevates this timeless tale into a visual masterpiece—a testament to human resilience and an inspiration for confronting challenges with courage and conviction. The painting’s enduring legacy resides not only in its artistic merit but also in its profound articulation of moral values that continue to resonate across cultures and generations.

• Artist: Xu Beihong
• Born Year: 1895
• Death Year: 1953
• Birth City: Yixing
• Birth Country: China

Additional Research: The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains is a well-known fable from Chinese mythology about the virtues of perseverance and willpower. The tale first appeared in Book 5 of Liezi, a Daoist text of the 4th century BC, and was retold in the Garden of Stories by Liu Xiang in the 1st century BC. It was also used by Mao Zedong in a famous speech in 1945.

• The fable concerns a Foolish Old Man of 90 years who lived near a pair of mountains (given in some tellings as the Taihang and Wangwu).
• He was vexed that, with the north flank of the mountains blocking the road, it was such a long way around to come and go.
• He called together the family and made a proposal: ‘Do you agree that we should make every effort to level the high ground, so that there is a clear road straight through to south of Yu and down to the south bank of the Han River?’

They all agreed. But his wife raised difficulties: ‘You are too weak to reduce even the smallest hillock; what can you do with Taihang and Wangwu? Besides, where will you put the earth and stones?’ They all answered: ‘Throw them in the Gulf of Zhili, north of Yintu.’ Then, taking his son and grandson as porters, he broke stones and dug up earth, which they transported in hods and baskets to the tail of the Gulf of Zhili. The son of their neighbor Mr. Jingcheng, born to his widow after his death, and now just cutting his second teeth, ran away to help them. The Foolish Old Man did not come home until the hot season had given way to the cold. Old Wiseacre of River Bend smiled and tried to stop him, saying: ‘How can you be so unwise? With the last strength of your declining years, you cannot even damage one blade of grass on the mountains; what can you do to stones and earth?’ The Foolish Old Man of North Mountain breathed a long sigh, and said: ‘Certainly your mind is set too firm for me ever to penetrate it. You are not even as clever as the widow’s little child. Even when I die, I shall have sons surviving me. My sons will beget me more grandsons, my grandsons in their turn will have sons, and these will have more sons and grandsons. My descendants will go on forever, but the mountains will get no bigger. Why should there be any difficulty about leveling them?’ Old Wiseacre of River Bend was at a loss for an answer. Size: Unknown Date: 1940