History of Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties Painting

Author: Chen Shouxiang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-12-01
Features: During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties period, changes in art were more evident in the field of calligraphy, where regular script truly emerged. Changes in painting art were not as significant as those in calligraphy, but the shift in social customs and the rise of Buddhist thought led to the further complexity of painting, which was originally simple and clear. Cao Bu'xing pioneered Buddhist painting, and his disciple Wei Xie further developed it. As one of the signs of painting maturing, renowned painters such as Gu Kaizhi, Dai Dui, Lu Tanwei, and Zhang Sengyou emerged in the south, while in the north, masters like Yang Zihua, Cao Zhongda, and Tian Shengliang also appeared. The identity of painters gradually entered the writing of historical books and began to play an increasingly important role in social life. Among these developments, figure painting (including Buddhist figure painting) and animal painting stood out the most. Other genres in Chinese painting were still far from maturation. In the famous surviving work of Eastern Jin Gu Kaizhi, The Legend of the Lady of the Luo River, the landscapes were merely decorative elements for the narrative scenes. The gradual independence of landscape painting was only completed in the late Southern and Northern Dynasties period. This was also determined by the main task of painting during this time—to serve political and religious purposes, as stated in "It is known that the function of painting lies in serving as a mirror for self-examination." This was also a prominent feature of painting at that time. This book discusses how, despite constant warfare and dynastic changes between 220 and 589, the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties period holds a significant place in the history of Chinese painting. The painting of this era integrated cultural trends, witnessed historical inheritance, reflected the spirit of the times, and demonstrated cultural achievements.