Traditional
Paintings Chinese
Calligraphy Classical
Paintings Formats
of Painting History
of China stamps Numbering
of China stamps Rare
stamps of China Chinese
folk arts Chinese
lunar new year More
Gu Kaizhi - one of greatest artist of acient China
The spring water fills the lakes everywhere.
The summer clouds resemble the peaks.
The autumn moon is shining brightly.
The winter mountain highlights the pine tree.
The famous 20-word poem "Four Seasons" by Gu Kahai (345
- 406) describes the natural beauty in the changes of the four
seasons. The spring water is flowing in rivers and lakes, the
summer clouds are like the peaks in various strange shapes, the
autumn moon, pure and bright, is illuminating every corner of
the land, and the bare winter mountain peak is decorated by the
evergreen pine tree.
The four lines depict four beautiful pictures. His literary talent
can be compared with Ji Kang, while his calligraphy, with Wang
Xizhi. However, his greatest attainment is painting. The spirit
and charm in his painting are unprecedented. No wonder he was
regarded as extraordinary in his talent, painting and passion.
Gu Kaizhi's painting is characterized by "a life like charm",
which is important in artistic creation. He paid particular attention
to eyes in portrait painting, whether human beings, Gods or Buddhas.
"Spirit, charm and life are all shown in eyes," he said.
Once he painted Ruan Ji and Ji Kang (the sages of the Bamboo Forest)
on a fan but did not draw in their eyes. When asked why, he replied
humorously, "I could never paint their eyes, otherwise they
would be able to speak".
Another time a celebration was being held when the Wa Guan Temple
had been completed, (in the capital of Jiankang in the Eastern
Jin Dynasty). A famous Master was invited to strike the bell
in order to collect some funds. The wealthy people and officials
donated only l00,000 yuan, but Gu kaizhi, as soon as he stepped
inside, wrote in the record book 1 million yuan. People around
were aghast and thought he was joking. Calmly, Gu Kahai drew a
portrait of" Weimo" (a Buddha at the time of Sakyamuni,
meaning purity) but said he wouldn't draw the eyes until the next
day when the spectators were requested to donate 100, 000 yuan
each after watching how he painted the eyes.
When the news spread, large crowds of people rushed to the scene.
Gu Kaizhi cleansed himself, lit the incense, prayed silently and
made two strokes in the right position. All of a sudden the "Weimo"
on the wall seemed to come to life. His eyes shone with kindness
inside the temple. The donators praised highly and generously
took out their wallets. Soon several million yuan was collected.
The ceremony of "painting the eyes ', practised in Japan
nowadays was passed down from this period. Ideas are expressed
in the brush paintings. The lines in his painting are like silk
thread,
endless, numerous, detailed and lifelike. The free flow of lines
in painting came to represent the fluid emotions in people.
Gu Kazhi is honest, sincere, emotional and determined. Crying
his heart out for his benefactor, he composed a poem to Say "your
unexpected death is like the collapse of the mountain, the
exhaustion of the sea, while I am like a fish and a bird. How
am I going to survive"? He continued to describe his sorrow,"My
crying is like thunder destroying mountains and my tears are like
rivers rushinh into the sea." Little wonder he was said to
be infatuated, besides his "unrivalled talent, skill and
passion".
History of China stamps
Numbering of China stamps
Rare stamps of China
Classical Chinese paintings - from Qin, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing Dynasty (441 pics) Hot!
General info of traditional China paintings
About Chinese calligraphy
Formats of Chinese painting
Wang Xizhi - King of Chinese calligraphy
Terms of sale | Directory | Site Map | About us | Contact us
Copyrights (c) 2005 - 2009 Reserved by Xabusiness.com