Auction introduction: Nicolas Chow Imperial porcelain stood at the genesis of Tsai’s collecting journey, which impressively lasted close to half a century. Decades after his first meeting with J.M. Hu, Tsai chanced upon one of the earliest Sotheby’s auctions in Asia in the early 1970s while he was on a business trip in Hong Kong, and thereafter began amassing the stellar Leshantang collection. Far from being driven by an investment mindset, the assemblage of the Leshantang collection was a deeply personal and visceral journey steeped in anecdotal gems lying behind every acquisition, and one such notable example was his purchase of Zhang Daqian’s Dragon Maiden Worshipping Buddha (lot 112 in this sale) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 1981, which led him on a quest to meet Zhang Daqian himself to discuss the hitherto unseen striking red pigments in the painting. Tsai’s zeal deeply moved Zhang, so much so that it convinced Zhang to sell him one of his most treasured works, Red Robe Avalokiteshvara. As the founding member and chairman of the prestigious Ching Wan Society, Tsai was always keen to share with others his knowledge and enthusiasm, all the while actively promoting Chinese art across the region through various platforms. Those who were fortunate enough to have known Tsai would have been inspired by not only his passion and discerning eye but also his generosity and integrity. May this inaugural sale pay homage to the semicentennial partnership between Sotheby’s and Tsai I-Ming and contribute to the legacy of the Leshantang collection.