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Illustrated:

Taiwanese composer, Dr. Liang Mingyue, once put forward the idea that the "multi-layered effect" is an extremely fascinating feature in Yu Cheng-yao's style of landscapes and he holds the view that this effect originated from Nanguan's "multi-linear ensemble structure". Yu Cheng-yao's paintings are not without logical structures and coherence. A layered and multi-linear musical variety, it is possessive of unique charms. Therefore, he believes that Yu Cheng-yao's landscapes are full of transformations and ever changing, where no two similar mountains and rivers are to be found. Art historians categorized Yu Cheng-yao's works into three periods, "The Early Period", "The Mature Period" and "The Late Period"; Ni Tsai-chin, on the other hand, divided Yu Cheng-yao's Chinese ink paintings into three periods namely, "Modest", "Remarkable and Imposing to Solid and Substantial", "Depressed and Gloomy back to Young and Awkward". The work, "Valley Landscape", belonging to Yu Cheng-yao's "Late Period", is simply adorned and refreshing, yet extraordinarily dignified and impressive in stature.

In 1999, the Taiwan Provincial Museum of Fine Arts (present National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts) curated "A Centennial Retrospective For Yu Cheng-yao: Years Of Retreat Where Time Ceases". This piece of colored ink, "Valley Landscape", is one of its exhibits too. A paragraph of analytical appraisal written by Tseng Ying-ting in the exhibition catalogue made some fairly accurate commentary, "Adopting his customary fine and solid array of long and short strokes in this piece of work, Senior Yu wove a closely knit elaboration of richly layered rock formations and green woods, intentionally portraying the simple and sincere power within the layers of landscape amidst its tightly composed structural form. Looking carefully at the ink clusters and the layers of pure green in the composition, a steady and tranquil breath seems to emanate in the air, closely integrating the true and sincere disposition between the painter and Nature; and the seemingly remarkable and steeply undulating mountain range just rightly conveys the lofty and profound inner levels within the artist. If we listen yet again to the splashing sounds of running streams bubbling out from the dense valley, it sounds exactly like an emotionally stirring song that transcends the core of heaven and earth! This is such a terrifically magical and pleasant world ¹. "

1 A Centennial Retrospective For Yu Cheng-yao-Years Of Retreat Where Time Ceases, Taiwan Provincial Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, June 1999, pp.189-190