A thatched hut in the hills by the water.  A man sits alone as his boy attendant brews tea.  The artist wrote the title in the upper right corner of the painting, "Lu Yu peng-cha-tu."  Toward the left end the artist's poem reads, "Who dwells within the mountain hut, sitting intoning verses till the sun sets?  Visitors from the common world do not come here and wild birds scatter overhead.  He orders the boy to draw up [fresh spring] water and brew new tea."
The signature is at the bottom left: Chao Tan-lin.
2 seals: Chao, Chao Shan-chang yin.

The second inscription in the upper right is by Kuei Pan and reads, "Rising after sleep in the mountain studio, thirsty thoughts grow.  Calling to the child attendant to prepare tea and cleanse the withered sprigs.  The soft dust falls on the stone roller and the dragon ball turns green.  Live water boiling turns up dancing bubbles like crab eyes.  A soft thunder lightly resonates in the ear, and a fine fragrance gently caresses the nostrils.  A small cup is washed clean.  With twin pupils widen open, enjoy to the brim the cloudlike water of the Chao stream."
Signed: Kuei Pan.

In the upper right the emperor Chien-lung's inscription reads, "Master Ku-pien in the thatched hut teaches the boy the art of steeping tea amidst the rain clouds.  Ahead in the stream there is not the wisp of a boat.  After a respite by the drifting flows, I will return."
Signed: Yu-ti. 
1 seal: Chien-lung chen-han.

On a separate sheet of paper following the painting Liu Lun inscribes in semi-cursive script, rhyming with the emperor, "The lofty practices of Chien-hung [Lu Yu are perpetuated] among tripods and braziers, from his hand came the Canons of Tea for pursuit in leisure.  A bamboo spray brushes against the entwining wisp of smoke, there ought to be a solitary crane of longevity returning to perch on the beam."
Signed: Respectfully inscribed by [Your Majesty's] Servant Liu Lun. 
2 seals: Chen, Lun.

Chao Yuan (d. after 1372) was a native of Chu-Cheng in Shang-tung Province but made his adult home in Ku-su (Suchou in Chiang-su Province).  His tzu was Shan-chang and his hao Tan-lin.  He painted landscapes and bamboo.  In landscape he followed the tradition of Tung Yuan [and that of more recent Wang Meng.]  Sometime during the beginning of the Hungwu era (1368 - 1399) he was summoned to the capital to paint the portraits of ancient meritorious worthies, but when on an occasion his behavior seemed to lack in decorum he was executed.  His vital dates are unknown.