Album leaf, ink and colors on paper
The term “marine miscellany” originates from the phrase “productions of the sea of various kinds” in the Book of Documents (Chapter “Tribute of Yu”), describing the variety and diversity of sea creatures. According to Shiqu Baoji Xubian (Continuation of Precious Collection of the Stone Moat Pavilion), Depiction of Various Species of Sea Creatures consists of four volumes, introducing a total of 371 marine species. The volume housed in the National Palace Museum is the fourth, comprising 44 leaves and primarily featuring various shellfish and arthropods. Small regular-script annotations are meticulously written around the illustrations, describing the habitats, shapes, and habits of the marine creatures, supplemented by text praising their characteristics. The annotations also include related legends and practical uses. The preface of the first volume, now preserved in Beijing’s Palace Museum, contains the phrase, “Created by Fujian artist Nie Huang at in the maritime border Diaoaoji during the midsummer of 1698,” revealing the date and the artist’s name. In this text, Nie states that he is a native of Qiantang (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang) and travels extensively. In 1687, he painted Crab Album, presenting 30 crab species. He later compiled and redrew his previous Crab Album along with other marine creatures he had observed and heard about, combining them into a single work.