When did ancient figure painting originate?

Figure painting is a painting discipline that directly reflects reality in Chinese painting. It not only reflects the characteristics of the Chinese nation's aesthetic consciousness, but also comprehensively and fully reflects the social consciousness of politics, philosophy, religion, morality, literature and art, which is the most understandable and educational value in the subject of Chinese painting.

Figure painting is divided into several categories because of the different painting styles. For example, if a painter draws a fine outline, it is called "meticulous figure painting"; Those who practice brushwork are called "simple figure painting" or "freehand figure painting"; Those who are bold and unrestrained in painting style and splash ink are called "splash ink figure painting"; Pure line drawing or dyeing with a little ink is called "figure painting"; People who mainly draw lines and neglect their heads, faces and hands are called "Wu Zhuang figure painting".

The appearance of figure painting, according to historical records, in the Zhou Dynasty, there were murals of historical figures who advised good and forbade evil. By the Warring States, Qin and Han Dynasties, a large number of works had appeared with the stories and activities of historical reality or mythical figures as their themes.

Later, the silk paintings of "Dragon and Phoenix" and "Dragon Control" in Chu Tomb in the Warring States Period were the earliest known single figure paintings. Later, a large number of silk paintings, murals and portrait bricks were unearthed, which showed the prosperity and development of figure painting in this period.

By the Han Dynasty, the development of figure painting was basically mature. In the creation of figure painting, there are not only accurate portraits of figures, but also vivid, exaggerated and deformed works, many of which have distinct freehand brushwork.