The Refinement and Elegance of Chinese Traditional Painting

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Chinese painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world.The earliest paintings were not representational but ornamental;they consisted of patterns or designs rather than pictures.Early pottery was painted with spirals, zigzags.dots,or animals.It was only during the Warring States Period(403-221 BC)that artists began to represent the world around them.

Painting in the traditional style is known today in Chinese as guó hua ,meaning”national”or”native painting”,as opposed to Western styles of art which became popular in China in the 20th century.Traditional painting involves essentially the same techniques as calligraphy and is done with a brush dipped in black or colored ink;oils are not used.As with calligraphy,the most popular materials on which paintings are made of are paper and silk.The finished work is then mounted on scrolls,which can be hung or rolled up.Traditional painting is also done in albums and on walls,lacquerwork,and other media.

Artists from Han(202 BC)to Tang (618-906)dynasties mainly painted human figures. Much of what we know of early Chinese figure painting comes from burial sites,where paintings were preserved on silk banners,lacquered objects,and tomb walls.Many early tomb paintings were meant to protect the dead or help their souls get to heaven,Others illustrated the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius,or showed scenes of daily life.

Many critics consider landscape painting to be the highest form of Chinese painting.The time from the Five Dynasties period to the Northern Song period(907-1127)is known as the”Great Age of Chinese Landscape”.In the north,artists such as Jing Hao.,Fan Kuan,and Guo Xi painted pictures of towering mountains, using strong black lines.,ink wash.and sharp,dotted brushstrokes to suggest rough stone.In the south,Dong Yuan.Juran,and other artists painted the rolling hills and rivers of their native countryside in peaceful scenes with softer,I ubbed brushwork.These two kinds of scenes and techniques became the classical styles of.Chinese landscape painting.