Why can "Four Gentlemen" become a unique painting theme in China?

Plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are called "four gentlemen", which are the symbols of China people's feelings and wishes for things, and are also the most common themes in poems and literati paintings of past dynasties, and all literati are fascinated by them. Why can "Mei Zhu Lan Ju" become the favorite painting theme of China literati? Why can "Four Gentlemen" become a unique painting theme in China? Lang Shao Jun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Art, gave the answer in the preface to The Collection of China Mei Zhu Lan Residence.

In the history of poetry, giving meaning to natural flowers and plants is at least more mature than the Book of Songs. Later, there was a famous saying in Chu Ci that beauty (and noble personality) was compared to vanilla.

In the history of painting, similar sustenance for natural images matured in the Song Dynasty. It is already a matter of the Ming Dynasty to compare Mei Lan Zhu Ju to the "Four Gentlemen". During the Wanli period, Huang Fengchi compiled Four Ghosts of Zhu Mei Lanju, which was called "Four Gentlemen" by Chen Jiru and later called "Four Gentlemen". "Gentleman" is a person with ideal personality in Confucian classics. He regards Mei Lan and Zhu Ju as "gentlemen", while in the painter's view, it is "gentlemen's entertainment depends on benevolence". In his works, it is the combination of goodness and beauty, which shows the ancient artistic tradition of "Bide".

Scholar-officials like to draw four gentlemen, first of all, because the four gentlemen are closely related to "literature" (culture, literature and its historical tradition). Mei Zhu Lan Ju has appeared in ancient literature, poetry and literati life for a long time.

"Yi * copula": "Words with one heart are as big as blue";

"The Book of Songs * Feng Wei * Qi 'ao": "Looking at Qi 'ao from afar, the bamboo is melancholy";

"Li Sao": "The Shanghai River is separated from the blue, and Qiu Lan thinks it is admirable";

Tao Qian's farewell speech: "The three paths are barren, and the pine chrysanthemum still exists";

Yan Yanzhi's "Yang Gifts": "Like bamboo and cypress, bearing snow and frosting";

There are countless stories about the seven sages of the bamboo forest, Mrs. Mei and the crane, elegant names such as Xiong Mei and Juyou, and seasonal nicknames such as Mei Feng (wind in early spring), Lan Ri (spring day) and Chrysanthemum Festival (Double Ninth Festival).

Scholars have a conscious sense of culture and history, and like to describe their life and language with the color of "Wen". If the picture can't be the best, paste the poem and stamp it. Appreciating the four gentlemen's paintings printed as a furnace of poetry, calligraphy and painting also requires comprehensive observation.

Most of the ancient paintings of the four gentlemen that have been handed down to this day are works of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there were many literati painters and freehand brushwork flowers and birds prevailed. Painting Mei Zhu Lanju not only spread to ordinary literati, but even penetrated into folk art. The paintings of Four Gentlemen paid more attention to pen and ink, painting method, artistic conception and style, and many outstanding painters and works appeared.

The paintings of the four gentlemen have lasted for thousands of years, which is a rare phenomenon in the history of world art. I think there are the following reasons:

First, Chinese civilization, especially the art of Chinese painting, not only has a long history, but also has strong inheritance, stability and assimilation-it can absorb and assimilate foreign art without being assimilated and annihilated by foreign art.

Second, as a kind of artistic beauty, the picture of four gentlemen is always associated with China people's idea of goodness and yearning for goodness, which shows the basic attitude of China's philosophy towards true and good humanity-personal dignity, integrity, honesty, loyalty to a belief and belief, leading a totally clean life, being fearless of violence, modesty and arrogance, etc. No matter how human society changes, we need to stick to these basic human nature and ethical values.

Thirdly, as the representation and expression of natural beauty, Four Gentlemen's paintings reflect people's attachment and aesthetic attitude to the natural world. Man can conquer nature, but he can't be divorced from it for a moment. Whether as the source of material life or the object of spiritual sustenance, only by maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature can people have the possibility and fun of survival.

Tips: Mei Ju's painting formula

Meihua formula

Plum paintings are thick and thin, so we should see the pen in the ink, stumble and go smoothly, and ask the joy in the branches. Branches should be interspersed and painted like "women". Flowers are like the word "pin", chrysanthemums are grouped, the three are gathered together, the subject and object are separated, and the festival and back are unified.

Formula for painting orchid leaves

One pen is long, two pens are short and three pens are broken. The key to skimming leaves is pressing. There are folds, turns, interpenetration, thickness and thinness to be stretched. The pen is steady and natural, and it must be bold and in place. Two strokes and three strokes collect roots, and there is convergence and divergence. There is a release, a collection and a return, and don't recruit three points.

Formula for drawing orchids

The leaves are painted with flower stems, and the flowers are stretching in pitch. It can be exposed and hidden, and naturally there are high and low. Thick ink draws light ink flowers, and light ink should also have depth. Thick ink dots are like writing "mountains", and the contrast between shades is striking. The grass is green and red, with obvious color contrast. Ochre dipped in red-dot corolla, the color is harmonious and natural. As long as black is well matched, blue paintings are elegant but not gaudy.

Formula for depicting exquisite bamboo

The bamboo is leafy and wide. Press the magpie's paw on the branch and write flexibly. The word "brother" and the emphasis on human needs are wrong. The front leaves of branches are large and do not shrink when stretched. Density is the most important, related to the release. Proper painting hangs leaves, and the contrast changes greatly. Distinguish between subject and object, and avoid dispersion and overlap. Drawing bamboo and practicing skills, focusing on combination.

Formula for painting rain bamboo

The bamboo branches are slightly bent and the leaves droop to one side. The word "ge" and the word "knot" are interrupted, and various calligraphy and painting are in between. The pen is steady and needs, and the front will be decisive. The subject and object are divided into groups, and the whole needs to be connected into pieces. Dense places are sparse, and it is most taboo to pile them up. The key to painting bamboo is combination, and kung fu is between pen and ink.

Formula for painting chrysanthemums

There are three kinds of chrysanthemums, flying type. Emphasis should be placed on practicing the top and painting. Write decisively, mainly focusing on the center. There is a connection and a break, and the virtual and the real are used together. Petals are staggered in different directions. The outer petals must be stretched, uneven and asymmetrical. The color of ink is dark or light, depending on the color. Dry the ink before coloring, remember to fill in the color.

Formula for painting chrysanthemum leaves

There is a square in the circle next to the chrysanthemum leaf pen. The leaves are semi-dry, and the veins are even, so be decisive. Save three, gather five, connect, sparse, dense, and focus. The ink color of leaves is not flat, and it should be divided into dry and wet and shade. There are virtual, real and scattered, press the potential cut. Don't look at the corolla, just look at the leaves, and the combination of complexity and simplicity is also beautiful.

(National College Network-People-oriented, Unity of Knowledge and Practice)