China's Ancient Theory of Painting
Painting is the product of perception.When the laws governing such a perceptual expression
were not yet available or complete,rational guiding principles appeared first--the
maturity of the theory of Chinese painting went ahead of painting practice;it used
philosophical thinking to dominate painting,whose function of "conveying the Way or
Tao,i.e., philosophical and moral principles,was probably there togethter with its birth.
Gu Kaizhi's idea of "expressing the spirit through form" was a principle
unchangeable for all time.And Xie He's "Six Criteria"(liu fa) had been employed
all too frequently but remained always fresh.Zong Binge's required attainment of the state
of wo you as mentioned above offered a theoretical foreshadowing for the subjective
consciousness of suiting disposition and seeking relief and diversion.Zhang Zao's
dictum:"Externally,learn from Nature;internally,gain from the source of
feeling"was trulya knack to be passed on for the endless benift of the acceptr.As for
"6 Essentials"(liu yao) and "6 Merits"(liu chang) propositions as well
as such arguments as which comes first(fancy or spriit or form)?;which it is (likeness or
unlikeness)?;what one is (a layman oran exepert)? and even the dispute ove judgment as to
praising the Southern schools or depreciating the Northen schools--all these were but
sum-ups of the minor attainments(including those specific yet minute laws and those
appraisals of manner and style) and minor laws under the contribution of the major
theories.All in all,they succeeded in dissolving the concentrated theory and spurred on
the advance of the pictorial art.
True,the theories of Chinese painting are in the state described as "a hundred
schools contend",but they stay much the same in spite of changes time and
again."Six Classics(Confucian)"do give me explanations' I do mine of "Six
Classics",this is rational,and the reasonableness lies in the fact that there are
"classics" and there is "I",too.Though classics will not change
eternally,there is life under tips of my brushpens anywhere they make touches.Herein lies
the way of development of the theories of Chinese culture,and so does that of the
development of the theories of Chinese pictorial art.
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Recommended:
Three Thousand Years of Chinese Painting (The Culture & Civilization of China)
Chinese Landscape Painting for Beginners : A Practical Course
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