故宮書畫錄(卷六),第四冊,頁219&* 畫中人物頭髮散亂,滿臉鬍鬚,衣服破舊,赤腳,肌肉結實,在岸邊凸起的 岩石上磨劍。翻湧的波浪與松樹、捲雲形成畫面的焦點。 這幅畫原題「周處擊蛟圖」,不過從人物身旁的拐杖來看,應是描繪道教傳 說八仙之一的李鐵拐。傳說他身體魁梧,修道成仙後魂魄附在一餓死者身軀, 所以形貌醜惡。傳世明代宮廷畫家曾作類似的圖像,用以趨吉避邪。 &* The figure here with disheveled hair and facial hair wears ragged clothes and is barefoot with a muscular stature as he grinds and sharpens his sword on a rock by the water’s edge. The surging water, pine, and clouds and mist also form focuses. This work was originally entitled “Chou Ch’u Striking a Dragon”. However, judging by the staff at the figure’s side, he is probably one of the Eight Immortals of Taoist legend, Li T’ieh-kuai (“Iron-staff Li”). He was said to have been tall and robust, but after studying the Tao and becoming an immortal, his spirit was transferred to the body of a starving beggar, hence his ugly appearance. Some similar surviving images made by court artists of the Ming suggested averting evil and bringing good luck.