5.3 Chinese Landscape Painting and the Tao

Lao-Tzu (Laozi)

The Dao (the Book of The Way)

"everything flows"

• Wu Hua (Transformations)
• Wu Wei (Passive acceptance)

Prine An and Philosophical Taoism (2nd century ce)

• "be calm" and "go easy"

Feng Shui (geomancy)

• Feng - wind and abstract
• Shui - water and material

Positive energy (qi) and negative energy (sha)

"A painting takes meaning when it is infused with the breath (life force) of the painter and the painter's energy." (Hsieh Ho)

Song Dynasty (960 - 1279)

• Fan Kuan (late 10th century - Northern)
• Ma Yuan (early 13th century - Southern)

Six Laws of painting (Xie He - mid 6th century)

• spirit consonance and life movement
• structural strength in use of brush
• fidelity to object
• correct color
• proper placing and disposition
• transmission of ancient masters by copying

Li Cheng (10th Century)

• Solitary Temple Amid Clearing Peaks

Ma Yuan

• Landscape in the Rain
• Scholar Contemplating a tree

Dong Qichang

• Landscape in the manner of an Old Master (1611)

Guan Daosheng

• 10,000 Bamboo Poles in a Cloudy Mist (1308)

Wen Zhengming

• Cypress and Rock (15th Century)