Dong Qichang

Author: Dong Qichang (Ming Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The painter, grounded in the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, manifests in the wondrous imagination of the human heart. The painter stands between heaven and earth, surrounded by all phenomena. With a fusion of spirit and interest, suddenly and distinctly, they wield the brush directly to pursue what they see, hear, and feel. With a resounding cry, they create works in myriad forms, achieving excellence. Our nation's painting has a long tradition, dating back to Gu Kaizhi of the Jin Dynasty. For over a thousand years, numerous schools have emerged, with outstanding masters in each generation. From the north to the south, talented artisans have appeared, each with distinct styles, forming their own unique traditions. The vast Yangtze River and the majestic Kunlun Mountains are not enough to describe their lofty heights. Later generations, wishing to understand their details and marvels, find it difficult. I was born unable to paint but by observing the works of ancient and modern masters, along with the inevitable changes of their time, I have come to understand that learning the rules leads to understanding the lack of rules. The predecessors once said that this art can fully express one's aspirations—was it truly so? Reading through the masterpieces of past generations, I feel that their methods are like mirage, water, and moon—apparent yet elusive; while their lack of rules is like the boundless blue sky and clear water, vast and endless. Our society gathers works from ancient and modern times, selecting the finest from each era, detailing their lives, artistic theories, technical characteristics, and lineage. This allows 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 renowned painters, gain an 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 paintings survive in only a few copies, and some painters, though renowned, left no records of their lives. As a result, few images and texts remain, making comprehensive introductions impossible. Thus, we have compiled this collection of several painters, which is better than having none. In the past, Ouyang Xun compiled Yiwen Lüju and said, "I wish to make every household rich in rare pearls and every person carry jade brocade, allowing the predecessors to compile their collections freely." This collection embodies that spirit. This book compiles over 170 of Dong Qichang's surviving paintings, providing detailed introductions to his life and artistic journey. It also includes the Supplement to Dong Qichang's Painting Principles, compiled by Yu Anlan, as well as Dong Qichang's biographical chronology and excerpts from reviews of his paintings by various scholars, fully showcasing the artistic charm and influence of Dong Qichang's painting.