"Illustrated Guide to Calligraphy"

Author: Shinoda Huzumasa
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1997-12-01
Features: The Illustrated Biographies of Painters is, as recorded in the preface by the author Xia Wenyan, completed three years before the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, specifically in the 25th year of the Zhiheng era (1365). This book also follows the common practice of Chinese painting literature, focusing on biographies of painters while also incorporating art theory. This approach inevitably had a profound influence on the methods used in China for evaluating painters based on this perspective. Regarding The Illustrated Biographies of Painters, Dr. Takizaki Seiichi previously published an excellent paper titled Painting Theory and the Japanese, which was featured in Kokka issue 300, July 1915. Based on this paper, it is difficult to ascertain how The Illustrated Biographies of Painters was introduced to Japan. However, in the early stages of the Ashikaga Muromachi period (1338–1573), the book was already present in Japan. The Illustrated Biographies of Painters had a significant impact on Japan after its introduction, and much of the information about Chinese painting was obtained from this book. Initially, the Yuan Dynasty edition was introduced, but after the Ming Dynasty editions, such as the one by Mao Jin's Jiguang Pavilion, were gradually introduced, the information source shifted toward the Ming Dynasty editions. Unreasonably, even the Yuan Dynasty edition was modified based on the Ming Dynasty editions.