There were seven elders on the painting at the western side of Qiushui Pavilion, some playing chess, some reading, some reciting poems and others drinking wine. At the end of the third century, rulers contended with each other for power. They persecuted scholars, frightening the literati.

The seven unique representatives of literature at that time: Ruan Ji, Ji Kang, Ruan Xian, Shan Tao, Xiang Xiu, Wang Rong and Liu Ling, all had progressive political views and ambitions. Unsatisfied with corrupt politics, they yet could not demonstrate their talent or realize their ambitions. They refused to talk about politics, abandoning themselves into drinking and composing poems.

With similar ambition and hobbies, they often went to the bamboo wood at the rear hill, with food, the musical instrument qin and chess boards. As they plucked the qin and composed poems in the bamboo wood, people referred to them as the Seven Saints in the Bamboo Wood. In fact, the seven passionate scholars did not throw themselves into depression, but rather, they composed poems and prose impugning dark politics. Ji Kang even sacrificed his life for this.

Refusing to seek fame and wealth, they exerted significant influence on future scholars.

| The Summer Palace |