Inspired by the idea of “self-salvation” and the “labyrinth of the heart,” this work reflects the journey from inner confusion toward spiritual lucidity.
The Beginning of the Maze: A Heart Like an Abyss, with No One to Rely On
Life often feels like walking through misty landscapes, with mountains and rivers obscured—each step uncertain, every direction shrouded in doubt. The path ahead seems like an endless maze stretching for miles. Even if others offer kindness, they ultimately cannot steer the course for you.
As the writer Sanmao once said, this foggy abyss is "ten thousand fathoms deep, stretching a thousand miles wide."
Though inspired by imagery from Dream of the Red Chamber, this concept is infused with a modern solitude—when confusion surges like a tide, help from others becomes mere onlookers from the shore. The only real boat and oar lie within your own heart.
The Power of Self-Redemption: Walking Through the Mist to Find Your True Nature
The maze is not a dead end—it is a dojo for the cultivation of the soul.
To save oneself is not brute force, but the quiet strength of listening to your inner voice. The real transformation happens not in resistance, but in acceptance and clarity that arise through introspection.
State Follows Mind: When the Mist Clears, All Things Radiate
To emerge from the maze is not to arrive at some external “other shore,” but to awaken the inner light.
What once appeared as an abyss now becomes a staircase; every step etched with breathtaking views.
Sanmao’s wisdom is, in fact, a philosophy of life:
Pain can be healed, imperfections can be embraced, and only those with an open heart can “see clearly, see through, yet not break the illusion.”
This artwork captures that very essence—crafted in Australian nephrite jade, the deep inky black forms the backdrop. A figure cloaked in mist, as if being drawn into a mysterious void. The interplay of raw stone textures, partial surface imperfections, and the suggestion of a missing part paradoxically give rise to beauty.
When you become your own ferryman, the abyss becomes a celestial map—guiding others who may one day be lost as you once were.
The maze of the heart… was always meant to be crossed by your own hands.
The moment others can no longer help you… may just be the moment your own light begins to shine.
About the Artist: Wang Zhe
Wang Zhe is one of the few highly recognized female jade artists in Zhenping, China.
She is renowned for her finely detailed and emotionally expressive carvings of women, fusing flowing aesthetic forms with deep inner resilience.
Her works stand as symbols of feminine elegance and strength—soft yet unyielding, graceful yet powerful.
Estimated price for this pair by Wang Zhe AUD$13,000 (RMB￥60,000)
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