Translated by Hing Jia Wen Preface

The Chinese has a long history and an impressive arts culture. There are countless masters in the various disciplines who have established themselves as mountain peaks in a landscape of Chinese fine arts. Ancient Chinese fine arts possess distinctive characteristics which have impacted and influenced human civilization to different extents. Vigorous calligraphy, mesmerising paintings, melodious music, charismatic opera, lyrical folk arts and magnificent sculptures reflect the ancient Chinese perception of the universe and understanding of life. They put emphasis on harmony and the presentation of a person’s inner world and individuality. Chinese fine arts are highly valued for their brilliant freehand techniques in calligraphy and painting.

Chinese calligraphy is the most representative of all Chinese arts. Chinese calligraphers use brush, ink and paper to create graceful characters. They write with a force that punctuates the paper with incomparable exquisiteness. In their brush strokes lie their philosophical understanding of life. It can be said that calligraphy is a soundless music, an abstract painting and a dance on paper. In The Path of Beauty, Mr Li Zehou regarded calligraphy as embodying the spirit of Chinese arts: “Even though it is more closely related to painting and sculpture, calligraphy is comparable to music and dance. Calligraphy is not derived from painting. Instead, it is painting that has to absorb calligraphy’s experience, techniques and power. The strength, smoothness, power and rhythm of calligraphy can be applied to music. These features have become the soul of various Chinese visual and performing arts.” Another important element of ancient Chinese arts is music. Performing arts that involve music and dance have been practised in for a long time. The two were once considered inseparable. When poetry was created, the three were combined. Musical performance have dominated the performing arts from the ancient times to the Sui and Tang dynasties. A later conception, Chinese opera was an evolved form of traditional musical performance, and is considered to be another brilliant and popular performing art.

Ancient Chinese fine arts have come a long way. Ten thousand years ago, cavemen made beads and decorative pieces from stones and bones. They mastered grinding and drilling techniques, and started to produce painted pottery during the late Neolithic period. Painted pottery unearthed from Banpo were decorated with images of dogs, fish, frogs and birds, while pottery discovered at Majiayao had geometric motifs on them. These creations are the earliest forms of Chinese sculpture art, and also represent the roots of Chinese painting.

The spectrum of traditional Chinese fine arts is as vast and as deep as the ocean. This volume propounds Chinese arts from a fresh perspective for young and interested readers. You will gain a comprehensive and multi-layered analysis of the subjects. The book introduces calligraphy, painting, music, dance, opera and other Chinese arts in a systematic order, and is supported by a total of 300 paintings and photographs. Contents Calligraphy 书法 Zhong You and the Zhong Font 钟繇 2 Lu Ji and Pingfu Tie 陆机 4 Wang Xizhi and Preface to The Story of the Orchid Pavilion 王羲之 6 Wei Bei: Tablets from the Northern Dynasties 魏碑 8 Ouyang Xun and Nine Palace Fountain Inscriptions 欧阳询 10 Yu Shinan: Emperor Taizong’s Calligraphy Mentor 虞世南 12 Chu Suiliang and The Sacred Teachings of Monk Tripitaka 褚遂良 14 of the Great Sun Guoting and Treatise on Calligraphy 孙过庭 16 Li Yangbing: Li Bai’s Talented Relative 李阳冰 18 Yan Zhenqing: A Student of Zhang Xu 颜真卿 20 Liu Gongquan and Monument of the Great Strategy Army 柳公权 22 Zhang Xu: The Madman 张旭 24 Huai Su: The Drunk Monk 怀素 26 Su Shi: The Artist in Exile 苏轼 28 Mi Fu: The Diligent Student of Calligraphy 米芾 30 Wen Zhengming: A Master of Small Kaishu 文徵明 32 Zhu Yunming: The Unwilling Official 祝允明 34 Huang Daozhou: The Patriotic Martyr 黄道周 36 Wang Duo: The Imposing Calligrapher 王铎 38 Fu Shan: The Best Calligrapher of Early Qing 傅山 40 Deng Shiru: Master of Inscription of the Qing Dynasty 邓石如 42 Paintings 绘画 Pottery Art 彩陶纹画 46 Paintings on Silk During the Warring States 战国帛画 48 Han Dynasty Murals 汉代壁画 50 Gu Kaizhi: Excellent, Gifted and Eccentric 顾恺之 52 Zhang Sengyao: Innovator of Traditional Chinese Painting 张僧繇 54 Zhan Ziqian and Spring Outing 展子虔 56 Wang Wei: The Finest Artist of the Tang Dynasty 王维 58 Yan Liben and Pace of Emperor 阎立本 60 Wu Daozi: Sage of Chinese Painting 吴道子 62 Guan Tong: Master of Landscape Painting 关仝 64 Dunhuang Murals: Religious Images Inspired By Mortal Life 敦煌壁画 66 Zhang Xuan and Zhou Fang: Masters of Court Lady 张萱和周昉 68 Paintings Bian Luan: Pioneer of Bird-and-Flower Painting 边鸾 70 Gu Hongzhong and Night Revels of Han Xizai 顾闳中 72 Zhao Ji: The Incompetent Emperor Huizong 赵佶 74 Zhang Zeduan and Along the River during the Qingming 张择端 76 Festival Liang Kai: The Transgressive Painter 梁楷 78 Wen Tong: Master of Bamboo Paintings in Ink 文同 80 The Four Great Artists of the Southern Song Dynasty 南宋四家 82 Li Gonglin: Pioneer of Line Painting 李公麟 84 Zhao Mengfu: Top Artist of the Yuan Dynasty 赵孟頫 86 Ni Zan: The Unconventional Artist 倪瓒 88 Huang Gongwang and Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains 黄公望 90 Shen Zhou: Founder of the Wu School 沈周 92 Qiu Ying: Prominent Artist of the Ming Dynasty 仇英 94 Tang Yin: “Thousand Mile Tour” 唐寅 96 Xu Wei: The Talented Painter Who Went Mad 徐渭 98 Chen Hongshou: The Great Printmaking Master 陈洪绶 100 Dong Qichang: A Prominent Art Figure During Late Ming 董其昌 102 Bada Shanren (Mountain Man of the Eight Greats): Painting 八大山人 104 with More Tears than Ink Kun Can: The Artist Who Lived in the Woods 髡残 106 Shi Tao: Pioneer of Splash-Ink Painting Style 石涛 108 Yun Shouping: Injecting Life into Flowers 恽寿平 110 Zheng Banqiao: The Peculiar Artist 郑板桥 112 The Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou 扬州八怪 114 The Shanghai School: Prologue to Modern Chinese 海上画派 116 Painting The Lingnan School: Combining the East and West 岭南画派 118 Ren Bonian: The Chinese Van Gogh 任伯年 120 Wu Changshuo: Expert Seal-Cutter 吴昌硕 122 Zhang Daqian: Master of All Styles 张大千 124 Qi Baishi: Realistic Bird-and-Flower Painting 齐白石 126 Music 音乐 Classic of Poetry: Ancient Music Lyrics and Songs 《诗经》 130 Bianzhong: The Grand Set of Bells 曾侯乙墓编钟 132 Li Yannian and Song for the Beauty 李延年 134 Cai Wenji and 18 Songs of a Nomad Flute 蔡文姬 136 Ji Kang and Music from Guangling 嵇康 138 Three Movements of Plum Blossoms 《梅花三弄》 140 Su Zhipo: The Music Theorist 苏祗婆 142 King Qin Breaking up the Enemy’s Front 《秦王破阵乐》 144 Melody of White Feather Garments 《霓裳羽衣曲》 146 Buddhist Music: Tranquil and Elegant 佛教音乐 148 Washe, Goulan and Shuochang: Theatre, Stage 瓦市勾栏与说唱音乐 150 and Narrative Songs Quzi Ci: Folk Music Lyrics 曲子词 152 Misty Rivers of Xiaoxiang: Describing Landscape 《潇湘水云》 154 with Music Haiqing Preying on the Swan: Oldest Melody 《海青拿天鹅》 156 Ambush from Ten Sides: Music of the Chu-Han 《十面埋伏》 158 Contention Sanqu: Folk Music of the Yuan Dynasty 散曲 160 Folk Songs of the Ming Dynasty 明代民歌和小曲 162 Chinese Dance 中国舞蹈 The Earliest Primitive Dance: Full of Mystery and 原始乐舞 166 Character Baixi: Spectacular Multi-Genre Performance “百戏”歌舞 168 Qingshangyue: Han Folk Music and Dance 清商乐 170 Huxuan Dance: Spinning Like the Wind 胡旋舞 172 Huteng Dance: Full of Strength 胡腾舞 174 Jianwu and Ruanwu: Robust and Gentle Dances of 健舞与软舞 176 the Tang Dynasty Tage Dance: To Sing and Dance at the Same Time 踏歌 178 Duiwu and Wudui: Group Dances of the Song 队舞与舞队 180 Dynasty

Chinese Opera 中国戏剧 Baixi: Pioneer of Chinese Opera 百戏 184 Jiaodixi: The Battling Performance 角抵戏 186 Canjunxi: Ancient Chinese Comedy 参军戏 188 Gewuxi: Musicals of the Tang Dynasty 歌舞戏 190 Zaju: Mixed Opera of the Song Dynasty 杂剧 192 Four Great Playwrights of the Yuan Dynasty 元曲四大家 194 Guan Hanqing and Injustice to Dou E 关汉卿与《窦娥冤》 196 Wang Shifu and Romance of the West Chamber 王实甫与《西厢记》 198 Tang Xianzu and The Peony Pavilion 汤显祖与《牡丹亭》 200 Li Yu: Founder of the Suzhou School of Opera 李玉与苏州派戏曲 202 Hong Sheng and the Palace of Eternal Youth 洪升与《长生殿》 204 Kong Shangren and Peach Blossom Fan 孔尚任与《桃花扇》 206 Peking Opera: Epitome of Modern Chinese Theatre 京剧 208 Yuju: Modern Theatre of the Ordinary Folk 豫剧 210 Folk Arts 曲艺 Tanci: Pastime of Upper Class Ladies 弹词 214 Xianzishu: Storytelling with Rhymes 弦子书 216 Drum Song of Peking: Stories in Songs 京韵大鼓 218 Plum Blossom Drum Ballad: The Five Petals of the Plum 梅花大鼓 220 Blossom Majie Folk Artist Fair 马街书会 222

Ancient Sculptures 古代雕塑 Bronze Sculptures: China’s Bronze Age 商周雕塑 226 The Terracotta Army: Imposing Warriors 秦俑 228 Stone Sculptures at Huo Qubing’s Tomb: Patriotic Spirit Set 霍去病墓石 230 in Stone 雕 Maijishan Grottoes: Oriental Sculpture Gallery 麦积山石窟 232 Yungang Grottoes: Images of the Performing Arts 云冈石窟 234 Longmen Grottoes: Entering an Ancient World of Buddhism 龙门石窟 236 Creatures Before the Southern Dynasties Mausoleums: 南朝陵墓石 238 Majestic Mythological Beasts 刻 The Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum: Glory Set in Stone 昭陵六骏 240 Qian Mausoleum: Tomb of Emperor Gaozong and Empress 乾陵 242 Wu Zetian The Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty: Magnificent 明十三陵 244 Imperial Mausoleums Zhong You and the Zhong Font

hong You (钟繇), Zwidely considered to be the pioneer of Chinese About the Calligrapher Zhong You (153–230) was a calligrapher in the Wei nation calligraphy, has influenced during the Three Kingdoms. He was born into a prominent the art form greatly. He family during the Eastern Han Dynasty. His father Zhong Di, standardised calligraphy who had never been in an official position due to political with the kaishu style, a constrain, passed away when Zhong You was young. He was font that has contributed brought up by his uncle. largely to the development Zhong was a handsome and intelligent child. Once, of Chinese characters. He while he was on the way to with his uncle, they encountered a physiognomist. The fortune-teller predicted later created a font named that Zhong would be rich in the future, but told the duo to zhong which was widely be wary of a water-related accident. Zhong and his uncle studied, and it continued to continued on with their journey for a few more miles impact the development of before Zhong’s horse went into a sudden fit and threw him the kai font. into a river, causing him to nearly drown. Since part of the fortune-teller’s words came true, his uncle realised that Zhong was meant for greatness. He provided Zhong with a good education so that he could succeed in the future. Zhong lived up to expectations by studying hard, and eventually became a master. During the Battle of Guandu, Zhong sent Cao Cao more than a thousand horses during a crucial moment, which put Cao Cao at an advantage. For his assistance during the battle, Zhong enjoyed a close relationship with the Cao family. He was appointed as Grand Tutor, and was one of the important officials during the Cao Wei times. When he passed away in 230, Emperor Cao Rui donned funeral garb to mourn for him.

Obsession with Calligraphy Zhong You studied the styles of Cao Xi, Liu De, and Cai

Limingbiao Yong, famous calligraphers of the time, to hone his own skill. An extremely bright and passionate student, his study of calligraphy was intense. He claimed: “Throughout my 30 years of calligraphy study, I always had a book close by

2 CHINESE FINE ARTS so that I could study at anytime. Sometimes, I even went to bed with the books!” Zhong You’s passion for calligraphy was manical. According to a folk tale, during a visit to Wei Dan’s, he found a book illustrating Cai Yong’s secrets to calligraphy, and requested for Wei Dan to lend him the book. Despite Zhong’s pleads, Wei Dan refused as the book was too valuable. In his frustration, Zhong hit his own chest and almost died as a result. He was rescued only when Cao Cao sent a doctor. Despite the dramatic incident, Wei Dan remained firm on his decision not to lend Zhong You the book. Eventually, Zhong stole the book from Wei Dan’s grave after his death.

Style Zhong You’s calligraphy is simple, elegant and neat. In 12 Meanings of Zhong You’s Calligraphy, Emperor Wudi of Memorial Recommending Ji Zhi the Liang Dynasty praised Zhong’s work as “a delicate, ingenious and heavenly creation”. His work was compared to another famous calligrapher of that period, Hu Zhao, and the duo were referred to as “Fat Hu and Thin Zhong”. Another comparison was made with Wang Xizhi, a great Zhong You versus Guo Yan calligrapher from the Jin Dynasty, and they were called Zhong You never avoided his “Zhong Wang”. Zhong's kaishu calligraphy was outstanding enemies. After the Guandu war, during his time for its portrayal of beauty, elegance and he became a prominent figure in Cao Cao’s camp. Once, he depth. His small kaishu is slightly flat and compact. Its led an army to fight Guo Yuan. stipples are heavy, but the strokes fresh, which gave it a He was a strong opponent, and 荐季 Zhong’s subordinates persuaded natural feel. His work Memorial Recommending Ji Zhi ( him to retreat. He said, “If we 直表) is respected by calligraphers even today. Lu Xingzhi were to retreat now, Guo Yuan of the Yuan Dynasty called this piece of work “the best, would believe that we are afraid of him. The people hate Guo unprecedented calligraphy work on Earth”. Yuan. If we were to retreat, Zhong You is a prominent figure in the history of what would happen to them? We would lose the heart of the Chinese calligraphy, and an influential person in calligraphy people before battling. Besides, academia. The Bookstore Essence documented these Guo Yuan would think that he words about him: “The master behind these brushstrokes stands a chance against us with the little number of people we has conquered Heaven and Earth”. He often used the have here. Once he crosses relationship between Heaven, Earth and Man to describe the over Fenshui to encamp, we shall cross over to exterminate art of calligraphy. He believed that nature was the essence them.” Things turned out just of calligraphy, and tried to incorporate the spirit of nature as Zhong had predicted. Guo into his calligraphy. He was diligent student of calligraphy, Yuan’s army was exterminated. After that, Zhong defeated many and also a teacher who has affected the development of others and claimed their lands. Chinese calligraphy. His exploits were celebrated.

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