197 years of the Ox Zodiac, 197 years of what the Chinese zodiac sign of

197 years of the Ox Zodiac

Mr. Xu Beihong painting horse, it is estimated that no less than a thousand, and even more. Painting figures, other animals and landscape flowers and birds are also countless. But The Twelve Zodiacs is just the only set that Mr. Xu Beihong created in his life. Before that, he hadn't painted any. Because some of the drawings were quite contrary to what he stood for in painting. After that, he intended to paint another set at the request of his wife, Liao Jingwen, but without success. As a result, this only set of Twelve Zodiac Figures not only has appreciation value, but also has research value. Therefore, it is also invaluable.

At the request of the person concerned, first briefly introduce the set of paintings - Xu Beihong.

I am afraid it is impossible to count how many Chinese painters there are. Only from 1949 to 1989 in the art yearbook recorded in the whole association member of the famous painters on a thick book, about nearly 10,000 people. But the really famous, to the extent of household name, one is Xu Beihong, the second is Qi Baishi. (Detailed below) other painters, including Huang Binhong such a generation, is only known in the art world, and more than 90 ℅ of the people even in the art world do not know much. According to Liang Jiang, "one of China's art quantitative research results - Guangzhou art market survey", initiated by them in Guangzhou citizens interviews and surveys concluded that the more well-known is Xu Beihong, followed by the city of Guangzhou at that time, still alive, often appearing on television, newspapers and magazines appearing in the painters (Guan Shanyue). The second is Qi Baishi, who has been dead for 40 years. (See "Jiangsu Painting Journal" in November 1995, page 52) I also did extensive research in Jiangsu, the higher visibility is Xu Beihong, followed by Qi Baishi.

Xu Beihong painting

Xu Beihong is an all-round artist, proficient in Chinese and Western arts, in drawing, painting, oil painting, poetry and calligraphy are outstanding achievements. But to draw the higher achievements, this is a recognized fact. Xu Beihong's surviving works, the largest number of drawings. Xu Beihong advocate of realism, also based on drawing. Because of this, Xu Beihong paid special attention to the study and training of drawing.

The Five Hundred Soldiers of Tian Heng, 1928-30, 197x349cm, oil on canvas, Xu Beihong Memorial Hall

In his lecture at the Chinese University of the Arts, he said: "The first step in the study of painting is to make the first step in the study of painting, the first step in the study of painting. The first step in the study of painting is sketching, and sketching is our basic study and the only expression of painting. Sketching is poor, then in the object can not know clearly, in order to say that the color is even more at a loss, so the lack of sketching work, the color of their drawings, even how beautiful, is really a flood, almost the same as no color. (Lecture at the Chinese University of the Arts, 15th year) He also said: "The status of drawing in art education is very important. The position of sketching in art education is like building the foundation of a house. If the foundation of a house is not well laid, the house will not be built, and even if it is barely built, it will not be secure and will not last long. Therefore, learning art must start with sketching, otherwise it is impossible to learn. Even if one learns to draw a few strokes, it will be neither an ass nor a horse, and will not look the same. (17 years, in the university lecture)

Drawing in the mind of Xu Beihong occupies a high position. He left for France in March 1919, began his eight years of study in Europe, his main energy is used for sketching. Xu Beihong said sketching, is a Western thing, generally refers to the use of pencil, charcoal and other monochrome, drawing the structure of the object, light and dark, etc., to create an accurate and realistic form (also includes god). In ancient China, there was? White Painting which is to use ink lines to sketch the shape of the object, mainly in outline, and some slightly rendered with light ink to show its three-dimensional sense. The main means of white drawing is line, different from the Western sketch. The function of sketching is not one, but to exercise modeling ability. Xu Beihong before going to Europe, studied Wu Youru's white paintings, studied watercolor, has a very good modeling ability. But his formal study of Western painting and drawing, was in 1919 after going to Europe.

Rabindranath Tagore and Xu Beihong

When Xu Beihong studied in Europe, he did not paint as much as he did draw. This is because he believed that drawing is the foundation of all plastic arts, must first make great efforts to learn to draw well; Secondly, he was in Europe, the financial constraints, drawing than oil painting to save. In spite of this, he still painted a lot of oil paintings in Europe, and solidly learned the skills of the European realistic school of oil painting. Thick and simple. And each piece of work shows precise sketching skills, the structure of the main points of rigorous and precise, completely mastered the realistic painting method, and the level of more than ordinary painters, and no less than the realistic at that time. His oil paintings also show his to the vast and subtle ideas. Xu Beihong returned to China in 1927, oil painting style gradually changed. When Xu Beihong was in Europe, he was influenced by the environment and European culture, and his oil paintings had the authentic European oil painting mood. After he returned to China, more is engaged in the creation of Chinese paintings, Chinese paintings in the line, color into the creation of oil paintings, which have an impact on his oil paintings.

Xu Beihong made "Tagore Portrait"

As a result of the long-term creation of drawings and oil paintings, Xu Beihong for the first time in France learned the human anatomy and his understanding of the human body structure of the painting method, used in Chinese paintings, wherever the expression of human body structure and relationships, he outlined with lines, and then painted with the lines and fugitive colors of Chinese paintings. This kind is also noteworthy in the history of Chinese painting. Before Xu Beihong, the Chinese painters made figures, their arms and legs, rarely carved with lines of anatomical relationships. Xu Beihong to Western painting method into the Chinese painting, the generation of the first style. His creation also practiced? Ancient method of the good to keep, the dying to follow, not good to change, not enough to increase, the painting can be taken with the integration of the? The idea. By now, Xu Beihong's figure painting has been completely different from the ancients. He created a new national painting with the fashion of the times, affecting an era. In fact, Xu Beihong is not unable to paint traditional Chinese painting, he has a very deep book base.

Xu Beihong in 1930 to Xu Zhimo's "cat"

Xu Beihong in the figure of the painting up and down a lot of work, the history of Chinese painting, Chinese painting appeared in the latest and most different from the traditional figure from the Xu Beihong proposed? Drawing is the foundation of all plastic arts? Beginning, but he painted the horse especially in the world, the world mentioned Xu Beihong, will be associated with his painting horses; a mention of painting horses, will think of Xu Beihong. Generally speaking, impartial critics and painters believe that Xu Beihong's national painting, to the beasts and birds of higher achievement, in which the painting of horses and more representative.

Xu Beihong "spring mountain ten steed figure" 105 million sold this is Xu Beihong painted the most horse a work

To the horse as the subject of painting, since ancient times. Han dynasty portrait brick, portrait stone on the horse, quite vivid, but only see its momentum, not see the details and ink. To the Tang Dynasty, in the paper and silk horse, to Cao Ba, Han is the most sophisticated. He outlined with fine, even lines, and then rendered with light ink, and then color. Painters after them, and even the Ming and Qing painters also used. Xu Beihong, however, opened a generation of the new face, to the Weibei and the calligraphy of grass and official brushwork, sketching and writing the horse's torso, but also to show the charm, and then by the big brush stroke, write the tail and mane, and then rendered in ink, ink, rather than Western color method and watercolor brushwork. Later on, his paintings of horses were all wild horses that ran or stood, using lines that were more forthright and smooth, and ink that was more elegant, reflecting more of the Chinese painting style. The spirit of Chinese painting is written. Spirit, from the horse's dynamics to the painting of the horse's ink and brush, are very vivid. Xu Beihong created the large-format painting of horses, after the large-format painting of horses, few people are not influenced by him.

Besides calligraphy, some people say that Xu Beihong's book in his painting. Of course, the two are not comparable. Strange to say, Xu painting everywhere to speak of new ideas, Xu book everywhere with ancient ideas, his calligraphy in the early years under the guidance of Kang Youwei, Xi Wei, and then Xi Han Li and seal script, and to the oracle bone inscriptions, the six dynasties, everything, and finally formed his personal style. No one can surpass him for the strength of his vigor, the mellowness of his weather, the transcendence of his brushwork, the majesty of his momentum, the naturalness of his structure, and the flight of his spirit. In addition to the people who do not understand calligraphy, the calligraphy achievements of Xu Beihong did not recognize.

Xu Beihong "Yugong Yishan" during the three-month painting completed masterpiece

As for poetry, great painters and can be called poets, qi baishi, xu beihong, and so on a few people only. Xu Beihong's poem, try to cite the "ink pig":? Young also had an awl, do not walk with white hands. Begging for the spirit of no avail Zhang Huang even, bath and incense painting ink pig. Xu Beihong heart felt, can speak naturally, he saw the painter, can write a poem on the spot to give. Such as "gift zhao shaoyang":? Painting school of tiannan has a successor, shaoyang bird and flower real. Autumn wind on the old rider, splendid envy deep. Gift to Qi Baishi (Four Recordings of One)? The fire beacons are full of war, what is the intention of the misty Xiangling. The most is to look back with affection, the autumn wind curls up the waves of the dongting. Although this is a work of entertainment, it has a strong poetic flavor. The first time I saw this is when I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night, I was in the middle of the night.

Xu Beihong "wounded lion" 1938

Here, let us return to Xu Beihong's set of twelve Chinese Zodiac charts.

The study of Xu Beihong's set of Zodiac drawings, the first thing to know? Zodiac? What is it? And the related learning. Twelve zodiac signs? That is: the son of the rat, the ugly cow, c tiger, d rabbit, chenlong, has been the snake, afternoon horse, not sheep, Shen monkey, You chicken, 11th dog, Ohio pig. Rat is the son, the cow is ugly, and other analogies. Twelve animals to chronicle the year, after the Year of the Rat is the Year of the Ox, and then after the Year of the Tiger, the Year of the Rabbit? To someone born in a certain year is Xiao something, so it is called the Chinese Zodiac. Such as born in the year of the rat that is the rat, born in the year of the ox that is the ox, and other analogies. This argument began when? Ming Yang Shen (Shengan) in the "Art Lin Fashan - twelve genera" said:? Zi rat, ugly ox, twelve genera, Zhu Zi said that I do not know the beginning, I think this is the natural reason of heaven and earth, not man can do it. Yang Shen research results, said even the most knowledgeable Zhu Xi do not know the beginning. And Yang Shen's explanation is empty, equal to no explanation. Yang Shen is Ming people, then, at least, that means that people that have this said. Kunqu "fifteen Guan" seventh scene:? The rat is the first of the twelve zodiac signs, is not the end of the trouble? It has been clearly stated that the rat is the first of the twelve Chinese zodiacs. The twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac have been clearly established. The twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac have been clearly established. The twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac. It is also called the twelve phases of the Chinese zodiac. Twelve phases. Tang Li Zhao "Tang State History Supplement" volume on the cloud: "The big bugs, rats, are twelve phases of the genus, why is it strange? Big bugs, rats, all for the twelve phases of the genus, what is strange? According to archaeological knowledge, niu jiaotang tang dynasty tombs have been unearthed in the twelve phases of pottery figurines, the head is a rat, cow, tiger, rabbit and other twelve beasts, under the clothes like a human being, so far, especially survived. And unearthed a lot of pottery figurines of the twelve signs of the zodiac in the Tang dynasty, many museums are on display. That the Tang dynasty has twelve phases of the said, and very common. Then check the "Arts and Letters Classes Gathering" Volume 56, the Southern Chen Dynasty poet Shen Jiong (the word early Ming) wrote "twelve genera poem":

The rat track dust case, cattle and sheep down in the twilight.

The tiger sits in the empty valley, and the rabbit moon opens to the window.

The dragon's sermon is far away from the green, the snake's willow is close to the wandering.

The horse is far away, and the sheep is in the spring.

The monkey's chestnut is shy, the chicken's metatarsal attracts the cup.

The dog is a man with a heart of gold, and the pig is a man with a heart of gold.

It seems that the twelve phases have been said in the Southern Chen Dynasty, and earlier than the Tang.

In fact, the Qing people Zhao Yi in the "new Yu Congkao" on the ? Twelve phases of the genus? There is a special test. He said:? is that the twelve stars of the said have uncertainty? Ancient people but to take to the chronology of the month only. Lu Shen "Spring Wind Hall Essays" that this started in the North common. This is a better way to say. Tang Book" Crafty Kingdom to twelve things chronicle the year, such as the year in the c, is said to be the year of the tiger. Zhao Yi's argument is more credible. A few people in the north are not highly educated, with twelve things to chronicle, but also their own age. The Han Dynasty integration, the North into the Central Plains, Zhao Yi continued to test that: ? I think this originated from the northern custom, but in the Han Dynasty, when Hohan Hey lived in the five plains, mixed with the Qi people, so it was spread into China. In the Han Dynasty, it flowed into the Central Plains (China). Zhao Yi concludes: "The twelve phases began in the later Han Dynasty. The twelve phases began in the later Han Dynasty. My estimation may be slightly earlier. Because the early Eastern Han Dynasty thinker Wang Chong (27-97), in his work "On Heng", Volume 3, "The Chapter of Physical Potential", recorded: "The afternoon horse is also, the son rat is also, the son rat is also, the son rat is also. The afternoon horse is also, the son of the rat is also, the You chicken is also, the Mao rabbit is also. If water wins over fire, why doesn't the rat chase the horse? Gold is better than wood, why don't chickens peck at rabbits? The boar is also the boar, the goat is also the goat, and the ox is also the ox. If earth beats water, why don't oxen and sheep kill the boar? And the snake, and the monkey, and the monkey, and the fire, and the gold, and the snake, and the rhesus monkey, and the rhesus monkey? Wang Chong was one of those who made this statement, and it is evident that his statement predates Wang Chong by a long time. Cai Yong's "Questions and Answers on the Monthly Orders" in Volume 80 of "All the Later Han Texts" also contains relevant records. Zhao Yi in the "new yu jung kao" in the twelve phases of the test cloud:? Heavenly birds and earth obsidian, divided straight in the sky, in order to record the twelve hours, and the seven obsidian unity, the beginning of the twelve Xiao also. Twelve signs of the zodiac used to remember the year, also used to remember the time. Such as late at night from 23:00 to the next 1:00 for the son, after 1:00 to 3:00 for the ugly time, an hour is equivalent to two hours now. In fact, it was a few people in the north of the time when the culture is not high, with twelve kinds of animals to remember the year, remember the time, remember the person's birth year and age of a kind of, the end of the Western Han Dynasty or the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty into the Central Plains, passed down to the present day. Continue to spread into, Vietnam, Japan and so on.

Why did Xu Beihong want to paint the zodiac? Besides, he advocated that painting should be modeled after nature,? Sketching is the foundation of all plastic arts,? And the dragon in the zodiac, the reality does not exist, how to learn from the law? We are still looking for the basis from the painting of Xu Beihong.

Xu Beihong in? Rooster? A picture on the book:? Yiyou winter, Beihong wrote. This year is exactly the year. The year of yiyou is 1945 AD. In the year? Ohio Pig. A picture, Xu Beihong self-titled:? The winter solstice in the year yiyou, Beihong wrote. The winter solstice is the 18th day of the 11th month of the year Yiyou, December 22, 1945 AD. In? Hundred Days Dog? On a picture, Xu Beihong also wrote:? In the mid-winter of the year yiyou, Beihong wrote at the Chinese Academy of Fine Arts. On the picture? Zi Rat On a picture, Xu Beihong also wrote: ? In the winter of the thirty-fourth year, Beihong lived in Panxi. The scripture to explain the scripture is the correct scripture. The other evidence is temporarily put aside and do not discuss. Only from the twelve charts can be known that this set of twelve Zodiac charts is Xu Beihong in thirty-four years of the winter solstice, December 22, 1945 (or a few days before and after) painted in Panxi in the College of Fine Arts.

Panxi is on the outskirts of Chongqing, Sichuan Province, and the Chinese Academy of Arts was built at the Shi Family Shrine in the Shi Family Garden at Panxi. According to Mr. research, this is a building on the hill houses, all made of stone, out of the door is a green stone road, along the mountain and down to the Jialing River, Jiang Biwei in the book "I and Beihong" also said, Panxi in the then opposite the University, the scenery is very beautiful, elegant.

Why did Xu Beihong build the Chinese Art Institute in Panxi in Chongqing in October 1942? Because of the Japanese invasion of China, from August to December 1937, Shanghai and the authorities moved from to Wuhan. After the invasion of Guangzhou, in October 1938, they moved from Wuhan to Chongqing. Chongqing then became the capital of the time, universities and other schools have moved to Chongqing.

Xu Beihong also went to Chongqing. Later, he went to Guiyang, Guizhou, Kunming, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guilin, Nanning, and to Singapore,,, and back to Chongqing, teaching at the University of Chongqing, this time the head of the Department of Fine Arts is his student Lvshibai. Xu Beihong traveled to and from Kunming, Guiyang, Guilin, Chongqing and other places, in late June 1942, Xu Beihong and returned to Chongqing from Kunming, the University of teachers and students warmly welcomed him, and he taught at the University.

In October, Xu Beihong in the important member of the Zhu Jiahua and others to help, the use of Sino-British Gengzi reparations returned to the money, founded a research nature of the Chinese Academy of Fine Arts, Xu Beihong served as President. He has been here since then to create, both oil painting, and painting. And he met here from Guilin to the Academy Library Liao Jingwen. A few years later, Liao Jingwen became his lifelong companion.

Xu Beihong's painting of himself and Jiang Biwei

But Xu Beihong's family life at the time was not. His wife, Jiang Bi-Wei, had been at odds with him, and Jiang Bi-Wei had also long had another male friend, which eventually led to Xu and Jiang's divorce. Before the divorce was finalized, Jiang Biwei demanded a large sum of money from Xu Beihong in addition to his living expenses, and then demanded one hundred paintings from him. The divorce signing ceremony was held on December 31, 1945 in Shapingba, Chongqing. As a result, around December 22, Xu Beihong was busy rushing to produce some of these one hundred paintings, and The Twelve Chinese Zodiacs was painted under these circumstances, which may have been named by Jiang Biwei. At that time, Liao Jingwen took care of Xu Beihong's life, and this set of paintings was also painted by Liao Jingwen to assist him. Liao Jingwen also loved this set of paintings, and later asked Xu Beihong to paint a set of paintings, but has not been painted. The picture of the horse, cow, chicken is Xu Beihong often painted; but snake, rat, monkey, especially the dragon, Xu Beihong never painted. Visible at that time should Jiang Biwei had to paint, ? Emergency? Is also a kind of power. Li Guang mistaken stone for a tiger, the arrow, no feather stone, when you know? When Li Guang mistook the stone for a tiger, his arrows were not feathered in the stone. In fact, when the stone, the arrows do not enter the stone. Xu Beihong painting "Zodiac" about the same.

In the early 1950s, Xu Beihong and his wife, Liao Jingwen, in Beihai Park

All things usually can not be, can be in a hurry, is also common.

The figure of the dog, pig, cow, tiger, sheep, rat, all angry eyes, especially the dragon, the garden open angry eyes, mouth spit angry water, all intentionally or unintentionally appear a ? Anger? word. At least, the twelve animals have a bad and uncomfortable demeanor, can it reflect the painter's state of mind at that time?

As it happens, Qi Baishi also painted a set of twelve zodiac pictures, (only a set of "Qi Baishi twelve zodiac albums" published by the Tianjin Fine Arts Publishing House is authentic, and the rest are fake.) About is also qi baishi life painted the only set of twelve Chinese zodiac book. Because Qi Baishi also declared that he never painted anything he had not seen before. He specifically mentioned that he had never seen a dragon and, therefore, never painted one. But he would have had to paint dragons if he had painted the Twelve Zodiacs. Why did he paint the Zodiac? Because in the year of Ding Chou (1937), he was 75 years old, and the fortune teller had said that he? In the year of Ding Chou, he took off the C luck, and handed over the Eung luck.? And? The year of the Dingshou, he was 75 years old. But? The only thing that is not good enough is that the clowns are in conflict with each other. The fortune teller taught him the method, and said:? It is appropriate to use the law of concealment, seventy-five this year, can be described as seventy-seven, as escape seventy-five a pass carry on. Qi Baishi one by one according to do. And also announced that he was seventy-seven years old. Pass through, he? Fortune? And he was rich, wealthy, and prosperous. well-off? Therefore, he was so happy that he painted a set of Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs to commemorate this event and his joyful state of mind. The inscription at the end of the picture reads In the small year of dingchou, I was happy to paint the Zodiac Book, and I felt that the time was too short to carry on. Qi Juan. Because? Because of this, the animals in his paintings are all characterized by the same name. so the animals in his paintings are all with. This is different from what Xu Beihong painted. We can see that Qi Baishi paintings of dogs, monkeys, snakes, dragons, etc., and other animals also show Baishi's state of mind. I put qi baishi "twelve zodiac drawings" in part of the painting is also published here, and xu beihong's "twelve zodiac drawings" against appreciate and study. Xu beihong, qi baishi two painting state of mind as well as modeling, ink level, etc., comparison, are immediately visible. (see attached picture)

Xu Beihong's ability to modeling at that time is no one else can, far more than Qi Baishi. He was advocating that paintings should be realistic, to be? But he was also a master of the art of visualization, and he was a master of the art of visualization. Moreover, one of the dog, sheep, pigs, etc. can be seen is a special breed. This is and Xu Beihong usually pay attention to research as well as hard work is inseparable.

Xu Beihong's line is also extraordinary, he practiced calligraphy in his early years, learned the monument, but also practiced post, his book to the monument for the quality of the rhyme to the post, meteorological high and open, strong and powerful brush, with the painting as the painting, the painting of the dog, the tiger, the horse, especially to see the high strength of its brush.

This volume of the twelve Chinese zodiac charts, although the Department of? The emergency? In the work, but still visible out of the artist's conceptualization of the wonderful. For example, the painting of the snake, because the snake is too simple, want to paint is very difficult. Lu Xun said that although the subject matter is not important, it is not absolutely unimportant. For example, if a painter only paints all his life, he cannot become a great painter. Qi Baishi painted "twelve Chinese zodiac" in the snake also added some grass, but still show too simple, Xu Beihong snake painted on the branches, branches, leaves will help the composition, so that the snake picture rich and enhance the ornamental. The dragon does not exist, but the dragon in the human heart exists. Qi Baishi painted dragons walking on the ground, also seems too simple. Xu Beihong painting dragon in the dense clouds and fog, body half hidden and half present, and mouth spit water flow, it seems very rich.

In short, Xu Beihong's "twelve Chinese Zodiac", Tu Tu is different, skillfully conceived, shape and spirit, flexible ink, is a set of extraordinarily rare, and has a special value of the work.

On July 31, 2004, in the evening of repentance

Introduction to Chen Chuanxi

Chen Chuanxi, Ph. D., Professor of the University of China, Doctoral Supervisor, Special Contribution Specialist, is now concurrently the Director of the Institute of Art at the University of China, and the Deputy Director of the Theory of the Association of Chinese Artists. He was a researcher at the University of Kansas and a visiting professor at the University of Malaya, and was awarded the badge of "Honorary Citizen of Paris" in 2022.

He is the author of the scholarly works "Study of Six Dynasties Painting Theory" (edition, edition, ****13 editions), "History of Chinese Landscape Painting" (15 editions), "History of Chinese Painting Ideas", "History of Chinese Painting Aesthetics" (selected in the 20th century "Chinese Literature Library"), "Collected Writings of Chen Chuanxi" (nine volumes), "The Complete Collection of the Chinese Artists", "Sculpture Volume", "The Complete Collection of the Chinese Artists", and "The Complete Collection of the Chinese Artists". Sculpture Volume? How Chinese Art Influences the World", "The Collection of Chen Hongshou" (point of view edition, Zhonghua Shuju), "Repentance in the Evening" (Zhonghua Shuju), "The Record of the Generals in the Painting World" (Sanlian Publishing House, Hong Kong and Taiwan edition), "The Collection of Paintings by Chen Chuanxi", etc. More than 50 works, and some of them have been translated into foreign languages and published abroad. Some of his works have been translated into foreign languages and published abroad. He has also published more than 1,000 articles in Artifacts, Art Research, Fine Arts, and Art, and so on. According to the statistics of Fine Arts, an authority in the art world, Chen Chuanxi's research intensity is one of the highest in the country. He has been called "the father of modern art history research" by many young scholars at home and abroad.

Prof. Chen Chuanxi is well versed in history and theory, as well as literature and poetry, and he has created a unique style of painting and calligraphy that emphasizes tradition and is ancient in style and rich in scrolls. Xie Zhiliu once said, "Chen Chuanxi's painting is a top of contemporary literati painting." USSR pictorial once made a special report, the Soviet Union's most famous sinologist, Chinese art history researcher Chavatskaya once wrote an article that: "China's modern painting there are three major schools, the modern school climbed too high, the new literati school of painting is too close, but only Chen Chuanshi's school of painting stood the farthest. Chen Chuanxi's paintings are serene, subtle and poetic, with a high ancient style, surpassing the commonplace, which is a contemporary higher literati painting."

The above is related to the 197 years of the Ox Zodiac, is about Xu Beihong share. After reading the 197 years of what is the Chinese zodiac, I hope this is helpful to you!