Biography of Zhang Yanyuan

Author: Xu Zuliang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-12-01
Features: Zhang Yanyuan was an outstanding painter theorist and aesthetician in the Tang Dynasty. His Record of Famous Paintings of Past Generations is the first art history work in Chinese history, fully reflecting his distinct historical consciousness, his philosophical thought of "the theory of painting and calligraphy as the essence," as well as his views on the form and spirit of painting, its naturalism, and its profound insights. Zhang Yanyuan was the first person in the history of Chinese painting to comprehensively discuss the "Six Methods" of painting. His theoretical construction of the aesthetic category system of painting, his elucidation of the aesthetic creation theory and aesthetic style theory of painting, all made pioneering contributions that surpassed his predecessors, showcasing the brilliance of painting theory. The biographical information about Zhang Yanyuan is extremely scarce, but his ancestors were known as "three generations of prime ministers," and they enjoyed considerable prestige during the Tang Dynasty. This book extensively collects and compiles, meticulously, uncovering many materials previously unexplored by predecessors, especially proposing numerous new insights that were previously unaddressed. It is the first comprehensive and profound monograph in both domestic and international academia on Zhang Yanyuan and his Record of Famous Paintings of Past Generations.