Why does Chinese painting emphasize the need to achieve the three perfections of poetry, calligraphy and painting?

Chinese painting, also called Chinese painting, as the name suggests, is a painting made with traditional Chinese painting tools and according to the aesthetic habits of the Chinese. Chinese painting has a long history and fine tradition, in the world of fine arts in the field of self-contained system, unique. It is an important part of China's traditional culture and a valuable treasure of the Chinese nation.

Below, we will briefly introduce the basic knowledge of Chinese painting:

Characteristics of Chinese Painting

Relative to Western painting, Chinese painting has its own obvious characteristics. Traditional Chinese painting does not talk about focus perspective, does not emphasize the changes of light and color in nature for the object, does not stick to the resemblance of the appearance of the object, but emphasizes more on the expression of the author's subjective interests. Chinese painting emphasizes "writing God with form", and pursues a feeling of "wonderful between likeness and unlikeness": what about Western painting? On the other hand, Western painting emphasizes on "writing shape with shape", of course, in the process of creation, it also focuses on the expression of "God". But it is very concerned about the overall picture, generalization. Some people say that Western painting is the art of "reproduction" and Chinese painting is the art of "expression", which is not unreasonable.

Chinese painting has its own unique characteristics compared with Western painting, which are also manifested in its artistic methods, artistic divisions, composition, use of brush, ink, color and other aspects. According to the artistic methods, Chinese painting can be divided into three forms: brushwork, writing and both work and writing. Work-brush is to use the brush neatly and carefully, coloring layers of rendering, details into the subtle, with extremely delicate strokes to depict the object, so called "work-brush". And what about the realistic style? Relative to the "brushwork" in terms of the use of bold and concise ink and brushwork to depict the shape and spirit of the object, expressing the author's feelings. It is necessary to have a high degree of generalization ability, to have less than the more subtle mood, the pen should be accurate, the pen should be skillful, to be able to adapt to, the intention of the pen to. The form of both work and writing is a synthesis of the two methods of work and writing.

From the point of view of the division of art, Chinese painting can be divided into three major painting disciplines: figures, landscapes, flowers and birds, which are mainly divided by the differences in the objects depicted. And the paintings of animals and beasts, saddle horses, insects, vegetables and fruits in Chinese painting can be categorized into these three categories respectively.

Chinese paintings also have their own characteristics in terms of composition, brushwork, ink and color. The composition of Chinese paintings generally does not follow the golden rule of Western paintings, but is either a long scroll or a vertical scroll, with the length and width ratio being "out of proportion". However, it can well express the special mood and subjective interest of the painter. Meanwhile, in terms of perspective, Chinese painting is different from Western painting. Perspective is a term for painting, which means that when painting, the method of representing all objects correctly on a plane, so that they have a sense of space and three-dimensionality of distance, height and height, is called perspective. This method is called perspective. Because the phenomenon of perspective is near, big and far, it is often called the "near and far method". Western painting is generally used in focal point perspective, which is like taking a picture, fixed in a footing, subject to spatial limitations, into the lens on the truth down, otherwise it will not be photographed. Chinese painting is not necessarily fixed at a fixed point of painting, but also not subject to the limitations of a fixed field of view, it can be based on the painter's feelings and needs, so that the point of movement of the painting, to see and see the scenery into their own picture. This kind of perspective is called scattered perspective or multi-point perspective. For example, the famous painting of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhang Zeduan's "Along the River During the Qingming Festival", which we are familiar with, uses the scattered perspective method. The painting reflects the rich and complex scenery inside and outside Bianliang, the capital city of the Northern Song Dynasty. It takes Bianhe River as the center, and draws from the distant countryside to the bustling "Rainbow Bridge"; the viewer can see both the city and the countryside; the pedestrians on the bridge and the boats under the bridge; the buildings and trees in the near distance, and the deep streets and river ports in the distance. And no matter which section you are standing on, the proportion of the scenery is similar, if you follow the Western method of focusing on the perspective to paint, many places are simply impossible to paint. This is the ancient Chinese painters according to the content and artistic expression of the need to create a unique perspective method.

The use of brush and ink is an important part of the modeling of Chinese painting. Brush strokes emphasize the changes of thickness, speed, staccato, twists and turns, squareness and roundness in order to express the texture of the object. Generally speaking, the starting and stopping strokes should be forceful, the force of the wrist should be firm, the air in the middle should not be broken, and the stopping strokes should not be lightly picked. When using the pen, the light force is floating, the heavy force is Tingtun, the fast movement is slippery, the slow movement is stagnant, the partial use is thin, the positive use is board. To do curved line like a bow, straight line like a ruler, which is the meaning of the pen. The ancients summarized the eighteen strokes of the outline, which can be said to be a summary of the experience of Chinese painting with the brush. As for the use of ink, it emphasizes on chapping, rubbing, pointing and dyeing interactively, dry, wet, thick and light reasonably deployed, in order to shape the body and color the atmosphere. Generally speaking, the ink of Chinese painting is wonderful, lies in the thick and light, all thick and light are no spirit, there must be thick and light, thick place must be wonderful and not stagnant, light place must be beautiful and not obscure. Ink is also like using color, the ancient experience of ink in five colors, there are also ink as gold painting style. The use of ink should also be thick and talk about each other, so that there is light in the thick, light in the thick; thick to have the thickest and the second thick, light to have a little talk about the lighter, which is the flexible use of the brush method of Chinese painting. As Chinese painting and calligraphy in the tool and pen have many **** the same place, the two have formed an unbreakable bond, the ancients have long been "painting and calligraphy from the same source," said. However, there are also differences between the two, calligraphy is a lot of changes in brushwork, especially cursive, to be better than painting, and painting ink colorful, and more than calligraphy. The word "brush and ink" is used as an umbrella term for Chinese painting techniques, which is not only a means of shaping an image, but also has an independent aesthetic value in its own right.

Chinese painting also has its own way of applying color, and the pigments used are mostly natural minerals or animal shells, which are resistant to wind and sunlight and remain unchanged for a long time. The method of applying color is mostly flat, pursuing the effect of the inherent color of the object, with little change of light and shadow.

The above characteristics of Chinese painting mainly refer to the traditional Chinese painting. But these characteristics, with the advance of the times. The content and form of art are also updated and constantly changing. Especially after the May Fourth Movement, there was a great influx of Western painting, and Chinese painting, with its own broad mind, absorbed many techniques of Western art, enriching the expressive power of Chinese painting. However, regardless of the changes, the basic characteristics of the traditional Chinese painting should not be lost, and the fine traditions of Chinese painting should be maintained and carried forward, because Chinese painting has become a unique system in the field of world art, and it is a unique color in the garden of the world's art where thousands of flowers bloom and thousands of ravines compete for the flow of art. Chinese painting is the crystallization of our nation's high wisdom, excellent talent and hard work, and is a precious treasure of our nation.

The Tools of Chinese Painting-The Four Treasures

Chinese painting and Western painting have their own characteristics in their forms of expression, which are closely related to the material basis of painting, i.e. tools and materials. So, let's take a look at the tools and materials used in Chinese painting.

The tools and materials of Chinese painting are basically composed of brush, ink, paper and inkstone, which are usually called the "four treasures of the literati room", roughly speaking, they are the four treasures necessary for the literati's study. Because the ancient Chinese literati are basically or can book, or can paint, or can both book and can paint, is inseparable from the ink, paper and inkstone these four treasures.

The four treasures of the literati - pen

We start with the pen. In a wide range of pen products, brush can be considered a unique category of China. Traditional brushes are not only the necessary stationery of the ancients, but also in the expression of the special flavor of Chinese calligraphy and painting has a distinctive power. However, due to the brushes are fragile and not well preserved, so the ancient brushes that have been handed down to this day are rare. The history of the manufacture of brushes is very long, as early as in the Warring States period, the use of brushes has been quite developed. Chinese calligraphy and painting, are inseparable from the use of brushes. More varieties of ancient brush, from the raw materials on the pen hair points, there have been rabbit hair, white wool, green wool, yellow wool, sheep's hair, horse hair, deer hair, musk hair, badger hair, civet hair, mink hair, mouse whiskers, rat tail, tiger hair, wolf tail, fox hair, otter hair, orangutan hair, goose feathers, duck feathers, chicken feathers, pheasant hair, pig hair, hair, human beard, thatched grass, and so on. In terms of performance, there are hard hair, soft hair, and part-hair. From the texture of the pen tube to points, there are bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, bamboo, purple trespass wood, chicken fin wood, sandalwood, nanmu, pear wood, the situation of incense wood, lacquer, green lacquer, screw fine, ivory, rhinoceros horns, horn, horn, tortoiseshell, jade, crystal, glazed glass, gold, silver, porcelain and so on, many of which are precious materials. From the use of the pen to points, there are landscape pen, flower pen, leaf pen, character pen, clothing pen, set bone pen, color pen, etc..

The earliest brush, dating back to about two thousand years ago. Western Zhou and above, although so far there has not been a brush in kind, but from the prehistoric pottery pattern, the Shang dynasty oracle bone inscriptions can be found on some of the signs of the pen. East Zhou bamboo and wood slips, thick silk has been widely used on the brush to write. Zeng Houyi Tomb in Suizhou City, Hubei Province, found the Spring and Autumn Period brush, is the earliest pen found. Subsequently, Changsha City, Hunan Province, Zuojiagongshan unearthed in the Warring States pen, Yunmeng County, Hubei Province, sleeping tiger ground, Tianshui City, Gansu Province, the Qin pen unearthed in Fumatan, and Changsha Mawangdui, Hubei Province, Jiangling County, Fenghuangshan, Gansu Province, Wuwei City, Dunhuang City, Hangquan set and the Horse Circle Bay, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the ancient Jiuyan region of the Han pen, the Western Jin Dynasty pen in Wuwei are the ancient times of the remnants of the invaluable and indispensable information.

Now our common varieties are "stone badger", "wolf hair", "Lanzhu", "leaf tendons ", "red hair", "feather arrow" Temple, its pen size. Soft pen, generally made of sheep hair processing, characterized by soft, water content. Size models, there are many varieties, large-scale such as "Tidou", "grab the pen", etc., small and medium-sized such as "Crane Jin", "Crane foot "and so on. Partial brush, is made of hard hair and soft hair between, rigid and flexible. We are now common, such as "purple hair", large and small "white clouds" and so on. The pen is divided into long, short, large and small, the use of which can produce different effects, such as painting a large painting with a large brush, painting a small painting with a small brush. These are the general rule, but can not be constrained, such as some painters love to use sheep hair, some love to use the wolf hair, and some love to use a large brush for small paintings, that can be received in a hearty ink full of the effect.

The four treasures - ink

The impression of ink seems to be a little too single, but it is an indispensable item in ancient writing. With the help of this original material, Chinese calligraphy and painting can realize the fantastic and wonderful artistic mood. The world of ink is not boring, but rich. As a consumable product, ink is precious when it can be presented intact as it is today.

Before the invention of artificial ink, natural ink or semi-natural ink was generally used as a writing material. Ink was invented later than the pen. Prehistoric colored pottery decoration, Shangzhou oracle bone inscriptions, bamboo and wooden documents, thick silk painting and calligraphy everywhere left the traces of the original ink. Documentary records, the ancient ink torture (face tattooing), ink rope (used in carpentry), ink turtle (divination) have also used ink. After this long journey, to the Han Dynasty, finally began to appear artificial ink products. The raw material for this kind of ink is taken from pine smoke, initially kneaded by hand, and later molded, the ink is solid. According to the Eastern Han Ying Shao's "Han Officials Instruments", "Shangshu Ling, servants, chancellor, and lang, the month gives Yu Mo a large ink, Yu Mo a small ink." Yu Mo is in present-day Qianyang County, Shaanxi Province, near Zhongnan Mountain, whose right pines are plentiful and extremely famous for the smoke used to burn them into ink.

From making the tobacco material to the final product, which also has to go through a number of processes such as glue, and agent, steaming mortar and pestle, and there is a molding process. Ink mold carving is an important process, but also an artistic creative process. Ink molds can be square, rectangular, round, oval or irregular. Ink mold is generally by the positive, back, up, down, left, right six pieces, round or idol-shaped ink mold is only four boards or two boards synthesis. Built-in ink, close tightly hammered finished product. Most of the characters are engraved on the side so that they can be easily replaced when the ink mold is reused. The appearance of the ink in a variety of forms, can be divided into the original color ink, lacquer ink, Sujin ink, lacquer edge ink.

The ink used in Chinese painting is also very delicate. Ink is divided into "oil smoke" and "pine smoke" two kinds of ink, oil smoke ink made of tung oil or add burning smoke processing; pine smoke ink made of pine boughs burning smoke processing. Oil smoke ink is characterized by the color of black, glossy: pine ink is characterized by the color of black, no luster. Chinese paintings generally use more oil smoke, only coloring paintings occasionally use pine smoke. But in the performance of certain lusterless things such as ink butterflies, black velvet, etc., it is also best to use pine smoke. Chinese painting ink, generally made of ink ingots, we choose the ink ingots, we have to look at its ink color. Look at the best ink greenish-purple light, followed by black, reddish-yellow light or white for the worst. The method of grinding ink is to use water, force average, slowly grinding, grinding until the ink is thick. Ink should be fresh and now grinding, grinding and time to put too long known as the ink, ink, ink is generally not available. But there are painters who like to use the ink for painting, that is only individual.

We now have a variety of ink for painting and calligraphy, such as "Chinese ink", "Yidege", "Cao Sukong", etc., can be used instead of ink. Generally speaking, painting brush, it is best to use ground ink, writing painting, due to the amount of ink, can be used in calligraphy and painting ink.

When it comes to the use of ink in Chinese painting, it is also necessary to talk about the use of color in Chinese painting. "Four treasures" in the ink, should contain the meaning of color, because color is also one of the indispensable materials of Chinese painting. Color is also called pigment in painting, and the pigment of Chinese painting is different from that of Western painting. Pigments in Western painting are chemicals. The pigments of Chinese painting have two kinds of properties, which will produce different effects when used, one of them is vegetable, such as flower green, Teng Huang, rouge, peony red, etc., which has the property of being transparent and fine, but the color will fade away over the years; the other is mineral, such as cinnabar, Zhu Bleaching, Touqing to Sanqing, Touqing to Sanqing, Ochre, Stone Yellow, White Powder, etc., which has the property of opacity, covering power, and does not fade away over the years. The pigments of Chinese painting are simpler than the types of pigments used in Western painting. However, they give a different feeling, and they give the color of Chinese painting its own independent style. Today, Chinese painters also use some watercolor and gouache pigments of Western paintings as well in order to express life more richly, but this can only be matched appropriately, and the color characteristics of Chinese paintings must be maintained; if the pigments of Western paintings are overused, it will not be like Chinese paintings.

The four treasures - paper

Paper is one of the four great inventions of China's ancient times, once for the cultural dissemination of history has made a remarkable feat. Even in the prevalence of mechanical paper today, some traditional handmade paper still reflects its irreplaceable role, glowing with unique luster. Ancient paper in the ancient paintings and calligraphy that have been handed down can still be a glimpse of its appearance.

What did people use as mnemonic material long before the invention of paper? According to the literature and physical data, the earliest people are using the knot to remember things, things to tie a knot, things to unravel. Later on, they engraved words on tortoise shells and animal bones, the so-called "oracle bone inscriptions". After the production of bronze, and in bronze cast inscriptions, that is, "Jinwen" or "Zhongdingwen". Later, the word will be written in bamboo, wood cut into pieces, called "bamboo and wood Jane", such as wider and thicker bamboo and wood pieces are called "documents". At the same time, some of them are also written on silk woven products. Before pre-Qin, in addition to the above materials, but also found in the stone carved on the text, such as the famous "stone drums Wen".

It is generally known that paper was invented by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty. But archaeological excavations in recent years have raised questions about this. With the progress of archaeological work along the Silk Road in the Northwest, many Western Han Dynasty sites and tombs were found, which also has no shortage of paper relics. These right paper are all titled according to the location of their excavation.

From the chronological order of the unearthed ancient papers themselves so far, they can be ranked as follows: Fangmatan paper in the early Western Han Dynasty, Baqiao paper, Hangquan paper, Horse Circle Bay paper, and Juyan paper in the middle of the Western Han Dynasty, and Drytanpo paper in the late Western Han Dynasty. These papers are not only all earlier than Cailun paper, but some of them also have ink fonts on them, indicating that they have been used for writing documents.

Ancient Chinese paintings were mostly drawn on dry silk and silk, in fact, silk is also a kind of silk fabric. The silk used for painting was specially made, and now there are some brush painters who still like to paint on silk. About the Song and Yuan dynasties, people began to use a lot of paper for painting. Silk and paper have their own characteristics, paper is a plant product, silk is a silk fabric, brush and ink painting on paper, easy to show changes in ink and color. When painting on silk, the finish of the painting is a bit stronger. Nowadays, we mainly use paper for painting, usually Xuan paper. Xuan paper is divided into two kinds: raw xuan and cooked xuan. Ripe Xuan is processed with alum water, ink and water are not easy to penetrate, on which can be neatly and meticulously depicted, repeated color, so like silk fabric, suitable for painting brushwork. Now commonly used cooked Xuan are "ice and snow Xuan", "cicada paper", "mica Xuan" and so on. Raw Xuan is not processed by the alum water, ink and water easily penetrate, pen for a fixed, no change, and penetration, can produce rich changes in ink and brush, so writing paintings with raw Xuan. Common varieties are "net skin", "cotton", "cotton" and so on.

In addition to rice paper, some painters also like to use leather paper for painting, leather paper, also known as Goryeo paper, its performance is similar to rice paper, but the price is much cheaper. Therefore, the first learning to paint people also commonly used this paper.

The four treasures - inkstone

Inkstone, ink grinding. Requirements for delicate and moist, easy to send ink, and ink fine and even without dregs. Inkstone also has a stone inkstone, ceramic inkstone, brick inkstone, jade inkstone and other types of points, the most prestigious is the Guangdong production of Duan inkstone and Anhui production of Sheyan. However, painting inkstone, not necessarily so elaborate, generally choose the kind of stone quality, deep inkstone, slightly large cover, grinding ink fast, water is not easy to evaporate on it.

In the ancient study room, in addition to pen, ink, paper, inkstone, the four main stationery, there are a number of other utensils with their matching, they are also an essential member of the composition of the family of stationery. The Ming Dynasty Tu Long in the "stationery elegant editing" described more than 40 kinds of stationery, usually more common are:

Burning dismissal: also known as the pen and ink stone, used for checking the ink thickness or straighten the pen, often made of leaf-shaped piece.

Arm dismissing dismissal: also known as the secret cabinet, shelving arm, wrist pillow, writing in order to prevent the ink stained hands, cushion under the arm of the device. Arch-shaped, bamboo products for more.

Poetry tube: daily chanting and singing and book in the poetry paper, can be inserted into the utensils. Mostly bamboo, take the meaning of elegant.

The pen holder: also known as the pen grid, pen shelf, for the pen used. Often made in the shape of a mountain peak, the concave can be placed in the pen. There are also figures and animal-shaped, or natural roots and branches of old trees is particularly good.

The pen barrel: the pen is not used when inserted into it. Material more, porcelain, jade, bamboo, wood, lacquer are seen in the production. Or round or square, there are also plant-shaped or his shape.

Brush: pen after use to wash the remaining ink. Most of the pot-shaped, also made in the shape of flowers and leaves or other forms.

Ink bed: ink grinding in a moment of rest, because the ink grinding place wet, for the temporary ink.

Ink box: used to store ink ingots. Most of the lacquer box, in order to far from wet and moisture. Lacquer surface is often made of gold patterns, or inlaid with screw fine.

Paperweight: also known as the book town, for the pressure of the paper or the pressure of the book, in order to keep the paper, written flat. Often made in the form of various animals.

Water Note: water in the ink stone surface for grinding, more round pots, square pots, with a mouth, but also often made of evil spirits, toad, chicken and other animal forms.

Inkstone drop: also known as water drop, book drop, storage inkstone water for ink grinding.

Inkstone box: also known as inkstone box, the placement of inkstone. To the purple taiwanese, ebony, bean paste and lacquer system is good.

Seals: used for Inscription in calligraphy, painting works, famous name chapter, leisure chapter, etc., mostly made of Shoushan stone, Qintian stone, Changhua stone, etc., but also copper, jade, ivory chapter, etc..

Indian box: also known as the Indian platform, Indian color pool, put Indian mud. Mostly porcelain, jade, round and square, divided into two parts of the cover and body.

Chinese painting materials

Chinese painting and calligraphy can be written on paper, silk, silk, fan, ceramics, dishes, mirrors and other things, the following are common, frescoes are not included.

Silk:

Writing and painting on silk, damask or silk fabric, known as silk. Although there are many ancient paintings in rolls, they are easily infested by insects and broken, but paper is easier to preserve. Serigraphy looks more expensive, but the background color is not as white as that of paper. Because of the silk painting before the preparation of more work, it is not as good as the paper pass.

Paper:

Chinese calligraphy and painting paper can be roughly divided into two kinds, one is easy to water is raw Xuan, Xuan added alum water is not easy to water, is ripe Xuan.

Mural Painting:

The ancients painted large murals in tombs, caves, temple walls, palaces, etc., and many of the murals remain to this day and have become national treasures.

Folding fan:

Ancient fan paintings are more small, in order to carry. But modern people mostly use giant fan paintings as interior decorations, so it is more practical than the ancients.

Round fan:

Round mountain is mostly round or oval, not large. But there are also silk and paper. The large fan or palm fan used in the ancient court, as big as higher than the human Qi, is rarely seen nowadays.

Ceramics:

Vases, cups, saucers, mirrors and other vessels, but also the production of words and paintings, the pigments used and the method of production is different, but the principle of words and paintings and appreciate the same.

Vessels:

In addition to porcelain, such as calendars, lampshades, snuff bottles, and even modern ties and clothing, etc., there are also decorated with paintings and calligraphy, and is very popular, unique. Christmas cards and other prevalent in the West, with Chinese characters and paintings as a pattern is very common.