The Chinese Literati Painting Tradition
One can not help but marvel at the beauty of the Chinese landscapes, the vast space, the intricacies, the imaginative structures, the subtle colorations. To a western eye they are beautiful but to the Chinese they are far more. The paintings embody or portray all aspects of Tao. The caligraphy and imagery in each painting take on spiritual significance. The artist-scholar can spend years searching for understanding in each work. This understanding he seeks is not just of the scene he sees but of universal structure and himself within it. In turn, his discoveries surface in his brushwork, composition, and the spirit of his mountains, trees, water, and sky. It is no wonder, that the cannon for Chinese art remained among the literati painters over so many centuries.
Through painting, one could reach a further understanding of Tao or rather repossess his ancestors knowledge of Tao.
The Tao, with its associated notions of oneness of "spirit and matter," the external flux of all things, the resolution of opposites, and the significance of the nonexhistant, was the cornerstone on which Chinese based theirpainting and their theories of painting
It is the search for understanding that drives the artist-scholar to paint. Shen Chou, an artist from the Ming Dynasty tells of his new found knowledge and cleansed mind which he has reached through only experiencing nature. His words are translated from the calligraphy in Night Vigil (above, center).
Through mental abstinence and by sitting alone by the light of the flickering candle long into the night, I must pursue both the [outer] principals of things and the wondorous [inner] workings of the mind. By using this method for self-cultivation and responding to things, I shall posess understanding.
The Literati were generaly of the beurocracy. They were well mannered in Confucian traditions, well educated, and well off. They were first scholars before they were painters. In fact painting was generally concidered an outlet for scholars. Scholar-painters were greatly respected, their work was part of high culture. The great artist-scholars wrote at length, advising techniques for painting and calligraphy. They formed different schools of thinking across China. Their names and spirits were remembered through vast literature and in the paintings themselves. Every succeeding generation of artist scholars rekindled the spirit of their ancsestors through their own works of art and literature. And so it continued until the fall of Dynastic China.
Unfortunately though, literati remains difficult for Westerners to fully comprehend and appreciate.
Sullivan Ballou's family suffered a great loss upon his death, he was a loving father and husband. Ballou also realized he experienced a great loss, when he stated “The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long.”(p.445) On the date Ballou's letter was written, I believe his life flashed before his eyes, and he was able to collect all of the great memories he shared with his family and expose them in his touching letter. Ballou acknowledged how fortunate he was, when he was enjoying life with his family; he realized the loss he would undergo upon his failure to return to them. Ballou was a honorable man, and although he left behind a family: wife & two sons; Ballou realized it was his responsibility to fight a war that can end suffering for his country as a whole, but in return, the war can create a new form of suffering for his family, upon his death.
Secondly, Emperor Huizong was a patron of arts and in his painting academy he highlighted 3 aspects of painting: realism, systematic study, and poetic idea. (source dri buku yg foto di library) These 3 aspects were clearly shown in Cranes above Kaifeng: Auspicious Cranes which indicates the amount of control Emperor Huizong had on the visualization of auspicious events.
Cao Xueqin’s Story of the Stone is a classic in Chinese literature, showcasing the life and exploits of the wealthy Jia clan during the feudal era. Through Cao’s depiction, the reader is afforded a glimpse into the customs and lifestyle of the time. Chinese mode of thought is depicted as it occurs in daily life, with the coexisting beliefs of Confucianism and Taoism. While the positive aspects of both ideologies are presented, Cao ultimately depicts Taoism as the paramount, essential system of belief that guides the character Bao-yu to his eventual enlightenment. As was the case in China, Cao depicts the two forms of belief existing alongside one another, and not necessarily practiced exclusively to one another.
China has gone through many changes in its history. Changes include economic, political, and social. In the early 1500 and throughout history, mostly all social classes followed Confucianism. Confucianism is a type of religion based on an ideal society (Chang 2012, 22). China was molded though Confucianism but that slowly deteriorated as years went on. One main group that has been a main part in these changes is the Chinese literati. The Chinese literati include the higher-class people such as officials and scholars. The Chinese literati were the dominant social class during the 1500’s but their power slowly decreased throughout history. Throughout my paper, I will explain the Chinese literati involvement as centuries passed.
The next major influence on the Taoist belief was Chang Tzu. To him, Tzu’s writings defined the truth of life. He went on to write f...
Taoist immortals have been traditionally known for their young attitudes, appearances, and energies(Hoff 109). It is not the adult that achieves the highest level of development. It is the 'clear-minded, all seeing Child. The wise are Children Who Know. Their minds have been emptied of the countless minute somethings of small learning, and filled with the wisdom of the Great Nothing, the Way of the Universe.(Hoff 151).'; Pooh has been called the bear with little brain, but this is not a bad thing. Taoists believe that the brain can often send people off in the wrong direction. A brain can do all sorts of things, but the things that it can do are usually not the most important things. The masters of Taoism, like Pooh himself, listen to the voices within themselves, the voices of simple-mindedness and wisdom. These voices go beyond knowledge(Hoff 154). Pooh may be a simple-minded, childish bear, but his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood Forest have demonstrated that knowledge and cleverness can often lead to no accomplishment. All people possess an Owl, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, and Rabbit within themselves, but it is the 'Silly Old Bear'; that they must choose to follow.
Through what we have studied of the artist, we know that he sees various things in his
Hung Liu is successful in creating a juxtaposing image that tells a story about the many aspects of her Chinese origins. According to the painting, not all life in China is surrounded by beauty and elegance, like many believe it to be based on the traditional historical customs. Liu makes her point using a brilliant yet subtle progression, moving from the ideal to reality. Making use of the various principles and elements of art in her work creates a careful visual composition that benefit and support the painting’s achievements as a whole. This oil painting, being approximately 13 years old now, will hold a special place in Chinese history for the rest of its existence. The ideas Hung Liu portrays in Interregnum may help reform a social movement in the country by making her viewers socially aware of the cruel conditions the Chinese are facing under Communist rule, and this is all made possible through the assimilation of the principles and
Washington Irving’s “The Devil and Tom Walker” includes great examples of Romanticism, such as symbols in nature having links to the supernatural, the importance of the inner nature, and the emphasis of the individual. In the story, Tom Walker is a selfish man who cares more about money than he does about anyone else, including his wife. One day, while he is walking through the woods, Tom Walker comes across the Devil, who makes a deal with him to exchange his soul for the treasure that is buried in those woods. Tom declines and returns back to his wife and tells her that he has passed on an opportunity that could bring them lots of money. Tom’s wife, outraged by his actions, decides to strike a deal of her own with the Devil and after several attempts, she never returns from the woods. The next time Tom goes to the woods he finds that his wife had been killed by the Devil. He finally agrees to make the deal with him, now that Tom doesn’t have to share anything with his wife. Tom ignores the Devil’s suggestion of becoming a slave-trader and becomes a moneylender instead. He gets wea...
...l awareness to the ability to process language and sensory experiences and integrate with ones own environment. Until research on autism and other developmental disabilities yields more information about how autism affects neurological function, children and adults who are affected will not be served to the fullest extent of our capabilities as providers of equal education and health care to all. It is only with more information about the neurological differences in the autistic brain that we will fully understand the best way to teach persons with autism so that they might participate to their fullest potential within their community. It is my personal belief that great progress will be made during my own lifetime and that a new level of outcome will be the normal expectation for parents when their child receives this shattering diagnosis during the next generation.
So important had painting become, that some literati chose to focus their entire lives on mastery of the art, rather than pursuing government careers, even though their rulers were no longer alien to China. In the increasingly urban and educated society
When looking at the tradition of shanshui, it seems to face an endless stream of reproductions of limited number of landscape stereotypes. New masters built their reputation particularly on borrowing and copying freely from those old masters. Still, now when people learn Chinese landscape painting, they start with imitation (臨摹), which means they was confined to copying old masters, thus studying and copying masters’ works are necessary foundations for artists’ creation. From the modern culture condition, creating is what art should do, but not like the way of tradition shanshui used to be. But then, some studies found that what they call “copy” is not really what we understand “copy” to mean. From particularly tracing to liberal reinterpretation to subtle recreation, what begins as a way of learning continues as a way of self-cultivation and of creation. Dong Qichang said that the main point of using brush and ink to imitate the masterpiece is that to connect with and think deeply of the original on...
As a parent I would use the Authoritative parenting style. The authoritative style stresses the importance of flexibility and one’s freedom. I feel that this style is the most fair, and shows more respect for a child as a human being. I don’t like the idea of my children fearing me because of harsh punishment. As an authoritative parent, I would encourage my child to understand that there are reasons behind rules and that they are not just obligatory. The Authoritative parenting style builds a foundation for communication, empathy, and mutual respect.
This is not surprising in view of the fact that Chinese culture values stability and continuity over change. This may be, in part, due to the continuous practice of imitating the ancients as a form of respecting antiquity and authority, a concept instilled by Confucianism (art and imitation). Another possible explanation for this could be that the anatomical or scientific approach was never emphasized in Chinese art, such as in Ancient Greek art. And because principles of light and shade, perspective and proportion of realism were not emphasized (the use of line is the defining technique in Chinese ink painting), there was never a “desperate revolt against vision” or a need for “non-objective art” (Tu). Thus throughout the years, Chinese painters were able to keep ahold of representational images as the basis for
In depth analysis has revealed the structure of people and who they grow up to be. Whether the parenting style is prosperous or poor, it has significant impacts on how one sees the world, how one sees themself and has influence on one's levels of achievement throughout a lifetime. Until the child can recognize their own ability and goals, parenting style is the largest determining factor in the child's success in social and academic circumstances. Children are the final product, or a reflection of culture and a family's values. No matter what events or people cause turmoil in a child's life, the true impact of the negative outside forces lays in the parents hands. If the child is raised correctly, negativity will not take a toll on them as opposed to a child raised in a 'broken home.'