Chinese Painting Blog » Animal Paintings

Tiger one of the Twelve Chinese Zodiac in Chinese Paintings

CNArtGallery — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 09:57:51 +0000

The tiger is a symbol of courage and bravery and has the power to drive away demons and evil spirits. In Chinese paintings the tiger is the king of the wild animals and is a "yang" creature with a male principle. Tiger paintings are sometimes displayed in a office building in efforts to bring the company good fortune and strength. The tiger is the third sign in the Chinese Zodiac.

One of the Four Legendary Beasts in ancient China. It is often mentioned with the green dragon. The combination image of "a dragon with clouds and a tiger with winds" is the best partner to subdue ghosts. In Chinese ancient culture, white tiger has the function of warding off evil, dispelling disasters, praying for good harvest, punishing evil and promoting good, making great fortunes and having a perfect marriage etc.

Tiger - Chinese Painting

Painting of Dragon in Chinese Mythology

CNArtGallery — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 09:51:53 +0000

The dragon is the largest supernatural creature in Chinese mythology and embodies strength and symbolizes a supernatural force. It is the highest auspicious image of art in China and the leader of all living things. The dragon is capable of being hidden or visible, thin or thick, short or long and generating clouds and rain to bring benefit to all things on earth. It can do many good things for the people and has naturally won the love and respect of the Chinese people.

Painting of Rolling Dragon: In Ming and Qing dynasties of China, this pattern often used for the architectural decoration of the Palace or the Royal gardens. Rolling dragon is a symbol of power, dignity and honor. It also the meaning of getting rid of calamity and bringing good fortune.

Dragon - Chinese Painting

Chinese Crane Paintings

CNArtGallery — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 17:49:16 +0000

The crane is the most popular bird in Chinese paintings and is a symbol of longevity and auspiciousness. In ancient China the crane was regarded as having a long life span and one Chinese legend says that a immortal rode a crane to heaven.

The crane also represents a lasting soaring spirit, health, and happiness. In ancient China crane images were embroidered on robes of first-rank officials so the crane was held in high esteem and known as a first-rank bird. Cranes in Chinese paintings are usually painted with other symbols of longevity such as pine trees and peaches. Cranes with peony flowers symbolize longevity and prosperity. Cranes and lotus symbolize longevity and purity.

Crane - Chinese Painting

Noble and Precious Animal Deer in Chinese Paintings

CNArtGallery — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 14:22:59 +0000

Chinese Deer Painting: Symbolize Long Life for giving blessing of longevity. In ancient China, people thought the deer is an immortal animal with a long life. When a deer was 500 years old, its color would turn to be white, while the deer 1000 years old was called "cang lu(dark-green deer)", and 2000 years old was called "xuan lu(magic deer)".

Two Deers Feng Shui Painting, the Chinese word "deer” sounds like the word "road" in Chinese. So the Chinese painting of two deers in it also implies that everything was going smoothly on the road.

Deer - Chinese Painting

Symbolical Animal Cow in Chinese Paintings

CNArtGallery — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 14:17:55 +0000

The ox or the cow was the emblem of modesty and diligence and the second of the symbolical animal corresponding to the Twelve Chinese Zodiac signs. In the West, ox is the symbol of wealth and power, according to the legend of ancient Egypt.

Chinese cow painting: In imperial China, ox/bull/cow was the important tool for farming. Therefore, it was regarded as the mascot of good harvest. So, the ancient Chinese was fond of drawing ox for praying for good harvest. It is said that the ox also could avoid flood.

Cow-Open play - Chinese Painting

Wall Paintings on Buddhist and Daoist Themes by Han Gan

CNArtGallery — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 03:52:23 +0000

Han Gan was a Tang Dynasty painter, who, though recorded as having done wall paintings on Buddhist and Daoist themes, is best remembered for his horse paintings.

Han emphasized the strength and nobility of the horses of the Tang Empire by using a tautly controlled line and compositions of great clarity. The horse as a subject of Chinese painting was continued by Li Gonglin in the Song Dynasty (960–1279) and by Zhao Mengfu in the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), among others.

Han Gan paintings

The Giant Panda in Chinese Arts

CNArtGallery — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 08:15:55 +0000

The Giant panda seems as elusive in art as it has been in nature. In early Chinese Art, bears not Panda bears were carved into jade. However, the mountains where the pandas live have been well represented in Chinese paintings.

The traditional Chinese landscapes known as "shan-shui", or mountains/water is one of the most enduring subjects of Chinese Art. Bamboo, the main diet of the Panda bear, has also been a main subject of artists throughout time. The artists now include the Panda bear in their paintings. Paintings of Giant pandas appeared only recently in Chinese art due to the excitement pandas generated among Westerners in this century. Like the inspirational quality of some earlier Chinese paintings the images of Giant Pandas in paintings may serve to educate and inspire others to value one of China's National Treasurers.

Panda - Chinese Painting

Chinese Chicken Paintings

CNArtGallery — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 08:14:18 +0000

The Rooster or Chicken is the tenth of the twelve-year cycle of animals which appear in the "shengxiao", the earthly branch, or better known in English as the Chinese Zodiac. The Rooster is a common subject in Chinese painting, belonging to the category of flower-and-bird painting. The Chinese character for the Chicken is a homophone of auspicious, thus making it particularly popular among Chinese artists.

Chicken-Peony - Chinese Painting

Chinese Peony & Cock/Rooster Painting: A Chinese Chicken-Peony painting depicts a cock in a peony garden, symbolizing the pleasure of the country life as well as the hope that one will be blessed by rank and wealth (represented by the cock's comb and the peonies).

Chinese Tiger Paintings

CNArtGallery — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 08:06:07 +0000

Tiger is the third of the twelve animals, the earthly branch, or better known in English as the Chinese Zodiac.

It is often mentioned with the green dragon. The combination image of "a dragon with clouds and a tiger with winds" is the best partner to subdue ghosts. In Chinese ancient culture, white tiger has the function of warding off evil, dispelling disasters, praying for good harvest, punishing evil and promoting good, making great fortunes and having a perfect marriage etc. Tiger painting, ambitious as usual, the old-aged tiger looks a little slim,but he still has an ambitious and strong mind.

Tiger - Chinese Painting