P'u Hsin-yu

Author: Pu Xinshe (Painting)/Wang Bin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-05-01
Features: The painter, drawing upon the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, combines it with the wondrous imagination of the human heart. Standing between heaven and earth, surrounded by all phenomena, the artist blends spiritual thought with delight, suddenly sketching forth with vigor, pursuing what they see, hear, and feel. A sudden exclamation, a myriad of forms, culminating in masterpieces. Our nation's painting has deep roots, dating back to Gu Kaizhi in the Jin Dynasty. For over a thousand years, schools have flourished, with virtuous masters emerging generation after generation. From the north to the south, talented artisans have appeared, each with distinct styles, forging their own unique fashions. The vast Yangtze River and the majestic Kunlun Mountains are not enough to describe their lofty heights. Later generations wish to know their details and marvel at their wonders, yet it is difficult. I was born unable to paint, yet by observing the works of ancient and modern masters and their inevitable changes of the time, I have come to understand that learning the rules enables one to transcend them. The ancients said, "This art can fully express one's aspirations"—is that not so? Reading through the masterpieces of past generations, I feel their methods are like mirage and water, seemingly present yet elusive; while their lack of rigid rules is like the boundless blue sky and clear water, vast and limitless. Our society gathers both ancient and modern works, selecting the finest from masters, detailing their lives, artistic theories, technical features, and lineage, allowing readers to see a glimpse and grasp the whole, understand one painter and grasp an era's art, and through reading the collections of dozens of painters, grasp the overview of our nation's millennia-old painting civilization. Due to the passage of time and frequent wars, countless masterpieces have been lost or damaged. Some famous painters left no works, some works survive in only a few copies, and some painters, though renowned, left no records of their lives—hence, few illustrations and texts remain, making comprehensive introductions impossible. Thus, we gather a few works in each collection, better than having nothing at all. The ancient Ou Yangxun, when compiling Yiwen Lüju, said, "I wish to make every family rich in jade and every person carry silk, allowing the predecessors to compile their collections, each expressing their own views." This collection embodies that spirit. This book is the Pu Xinshe volume in the series "Complete Collection of Famous Painters of China." This series selects the most outstanding masters from all eras, providing detailed introductions to their lives, artistic theories, technical features, and lineage, enabling readers to see a glimpse and grasp the whole, understand one painter and grasp an era's art, and through reading the collections of dozens of painters, grasp the overview of our nation's millennia-old painting civilization. The book showcases the artist's works from various periods, making it of great value for appreciation and collection.