Restless Mind: The Four Masters of the Southern Song Dynasty

Author: Gu Ping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The topics this book concerns are somewhat shadowed by the specific period in which they exist. The "Four Masters of the Southern Song Dynasty" were also experts within the imperial painting academy, and the "royal" nature of the academy further cast a darker hue upon them. Later, they were repeatedly mocked and denied, not only because their styles deviated from the dominant "literati painting," but also because there was an inherent connection to the emotional factors of the Han people. The inclusion of the "Four Masters of the Southern Song Dynasty" in art history serves not only to maintain continuity but also holds greater significance as a counterpoint. Without them, there would have been no "revival of antiquity" by Zhao Mengfu, no "Southern and Northern Schools" theory by Dong Qichang, and the dominance of "literati painting" would have been impossible.
In Western academia, there is a tradition of experts writing popular readers for the general public, while in China, despite years of promotion, this tradition has never taken root. The authors of this series are all PhDs in art history, who are perceptive, energetic, and, despite their limited experience, have achieved considerable expertise in their respective research fields. However, years of rigorous academic training have also shaped their narrative style, which is characteristic of scholarly papers and naturally differs from the requirements of this book. During the writing process, they were aware of this issue and consciously pursued a lively and relaxed writing style. Although their individual levels of achievement vary, one thing is certain—the accuracy of their narration is beyond doubt.