Five Dynasties and Song-Yuan Famous Paintings of Flowers and Birds

Author: Zhang Ling
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: Xu Xixing came from a distinguished family and, though he did not hold official office, considered himself refined and called himself "Jiangnan Cloth Farmer." His paintings of birds and flowers often depicted common subjects, such as birds, fish, vegetables, fruits, cicadas, butterflies, reeds, and wild geese, imbued with a sense of simplicity and natural charm. He primarily used ink, with color as a secondary element, employing light and elegant hues that conveyed a sense of rustic freedom. The Snow Bamboo Painting is entirely executed in ink, featuring both line work and ink wash techniques, creating a fresh and elegant atmosphere. This style had a significant influence in the late Northern Song Dynasty and played a major role in reforming the court's bird-and-flower painting tradition.
The Painting of Life with Exquisite Birds and Animals was created by the Ming Dynasty painter Bian Jingzhao. Bian Jingzhao, styled Wenjin, was from Fujian, though some sources claim he was from Longxi (present-day Gansu). He served as an attendant in the Wuying Hall and painted for the imperial court. With a free and unrestrained personality, profound knowledge, and poetic talent, he excelled in painting flowers, fruits, and feathers, inheriting the tradition of the Song Dynasty court style and winning praise for his meticulous and beautiful works. He was renowned alongside Lü Ji. His colors were deep yet elegant, and he could depict multiple types of birds in a single painting. He was a master of early Ming Dynasty bird-and-flower painting and highly appreciated, with his works highly regarded. Xu Youzhen's poem On Bian Wenjin's Bird-and-Flower Paintings offers a fair assessment, stating:
"Among the flowers and birds of his time, Bian Gong stood supreme,
A master revered in the inner court.
With the legacy of Xuanhe intact,
His works stir deep emotion in those who admire."