How many different styles of Chinese Brush Painting

Question

I am learning Chinese Paintings now. I want to know how many styels of Chinese brush painting.

Answer 1

The past and present popularity of Chinese art as a global cultural movement is evident. The traditional art of Chinese brush painting has developed and evolved since its origins from around 4,000 B.C. Although the subject matter varies at times, works may generally be classified into three main genres, all permeated with the imagination and soul of the artist. These genres are figures, landscapes and flower-and-bird painting.

 

Figure Painting

Artists who dealt with figure painting often included scenes and tales of common people and everyday life in their work. Other popular images incorporated were those of historical characters, emperors and court ladies. According to Chinese Paintings Expo, figure paintings became quite famous in the Chinese royal court and were famed for their portrayal of elegance and the realistic nature of their representation.

 

Landscape Painting

Asia-art.net states that landscape painting was a well-known mode of artistic expression by the 4th Century and over the years, developed into two distinct styles; blue-and-green landscapes and ink-wash landscapes. Asia-art.net goes further to state that bright blue, green and red hues were used in the blue-and-green landscape. The ink-and-wash technique made use of varying amounts of the strength of ink and dramatic brushwork in order to capture the artist’s feelings and uniqueness as well as his perception of nature. This popular style of brush painting was evidence of people’s appreciation of the beauty and simplicity of nature. According to Travel China Guide, the earliest recorded landscape painting was created by Zhan Ziqian of the Sui Dynasty. It was entitled “Spring Outing,” and depicted a spring scene with people going about well-liked activities such as horse riding and boating, set on the backdrop of a waterfall and distant mountains.

 

Flower-and-bird Painting

According to Travel China Guide, the genre was inspired by the ornamental patterns that were engraved on bronze ware and pottery by early Chinese artists. The subject matter dealt with in the flower-and-bird genre included an extensive mixture of insects, stones, fish, fruits, and of course a variety of birds and flowers. Among the paintings produced were images of chrysanthemums, cypresses, orchids and bamboo--all infused with the character and ideas of the artist.

 

Answer 2

Types of Chinese Paintings

 

Chinese painting has evolved throughout China's long and varied history. Development of fine arts flourished or not depending on the whims and fancies of the ruling dynasties that so heavily influenced Chinese life for centuries. Chinese painting has also been influenced by religious and social input from invaders, traders and immigrants.

 

Prehistoric

Chinese paintings date back as far as the Neolithic Era, when colored pottery and bronze ware exhibited line patterns that looked like teeth, fishing nets and ripples, and vividly painted frogs, deer, fish and human faces.

 

Cliff

Ancient cliff paintings and engravings are found throughout China and Inner Mongolia. Main themes in Southern China include daily life, activities and sacrificial rites; whereas, those of North China depict dancing, wars, hunting and animals grazing.

 

Art Academies

Art Academies were first established during the Five Dynasties (907-960) where portrait paintings depict the daily lives of aristocrats, nobles and emperors. The Imperial Art Academy emerged during the Song Dynasty.

 

Landscapes

During the Five Dynasties and at the beginning of the Song dynasty, was a time called "The Great Age of Chinese Landscape." There are two basic techniques, one using strong, black lines, ink wash and dotted strokes to create such themes as rivers and mountains, and the other utilizing softer lines and softer brushes to paint peaceful rural landscapes. Both procedures merged over time into the classic Chinese landscape.

 

The Blue and Green Landscape, popular during the Tang Dynasty, portrays ornamental landscapes done in blue and green tones and outlined in gold, according to Art Realization.com.

 

Folk

Popular in the Song Dynasty (960-1127) and reaching its height in the Qing (1644-1911), this type of Chinese painting was prolific and targeted the masses. An example is the pictures displayed in windows and on walls and doors of many Chinese homes during Chinese New Year to ward evil spirits and disasters, and to attract blessings from heaven.

 

Still Life

The History for Kids organization says that during the Song dynasty (960-1279) attention to exquisite detail emerged and the subjects of paintings focus on single items such as a bird, flower or bamboo shoot. During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) paintings were done in oils and often portrayed birds, flowers, people and bamboo.

 

Common Daily Life

According to the Department of Washington Education, detailed scenes of rural and urban Chinese life, especially during the Song and Yuan dynasties, are highly regarded as social records more than for their artistic prowess.

 

Guo Hau

Guo Hau, which means "native painting," uses natural ink instead of oils.

 

This type of Chinese painting, popular until the 20th century, uses the same type of ink, brush and techniques as calligraphy. However, Guo Hau implements the use of colored ink. This form of Chinese painting commonly appears in the meticulous style known as "Gong-Bi," the traditional court painting style.

 

Shui-mo-hua

Shui-mo-hua, also a calligraphy-based Chinese painting style, utilizes a paint mixture of water and mo (a natural ink made of pine soot which created a water color effect), done on silk or rice paper, uses only black ink. The most popular form, Xie-Yi ("writing the meaning" in Chinese) introduces a freehand approach that incorporates few strokes and simple curves to express emotions.

 

Shan Shui

Yet another calligraphy-inspired painting style that rose to prominence during the Song Dynasty, Shan Shui (mountain-water-picture), uses brush and various colors of ink to show what the artists thought about nature rather than recreating it.