The work is inspired by eight literati paintings featuring trees from the Palace Museum’s collection, created by artists across centuries, including Li Yongchang and Xiang Shengmo from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644); Zhu Da, Wang Hui, Ren Yi, and Zhao Zhiqian from the Qing dynasty (1644–1911); and Cheng Zhang and Fu Baoshi from the modern period. The trees portrayed in these paintings appear in a rich variety of forms.