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).

]]> https://www.artisoo.com/blog/chinese-chicken-paintings-2/feed/ 0 https://www.artisoo.com/blog/the-national-beauty-peony-in-chinese-paintings/ https://www.artisoo.com/blog/the-national-beauty-peony-in-chinese-paintings/#comments Wed, 07 Aug 2013 11:45:16 +0000 CNArtGallery http://www.artisoo.com/blog/?p=1039 Continue reading →]]> Flowers, a major subcategory in the bird-and-flower paintings, became the object of attention and depiction by painters throughout the ages. Artists not only directly portrayed the outer beauty of flowers, they also expressed the subtle spirit and demeanor of their subject.

An auspicious flower, the peony is known as the flower of riches and honor and is a emblem of wealth and distinction. It symbolizes prosperity, happiness, and peace. Chinese peony paintings are hung in the home for good luck and in the office place for prosperous business. It is also regarded as an omen of good fortune. An emblem of love and affection, the peony is often a symbol of feminine beauty. The Chinese tree peony represents the season of Spring (Lotus of Summer, Chrysanthemum of Autumn, Wild Plum of Winter). The Chinese tree peony is a flower of the yang principle.

Peony(Four Screens) - Chinese Painting

Peony - Chinese Painting

In the early Gongbi flowers and birds paintings, peony is considered as one of the most difficult themes to paint. This is mainly because that the peony and herbaceous peony are very similar. Even the slightest mistake may destroy the noble and elegant feeling of the whole painting. Therefore, a good Peony painting is very rare and valuable.

The peony represents rich and elegant,so it is the king of flowers.  It is also a symbol of the golden age spirit. In traditional Chinese culture, peony painting is the most popular category among the flower and bird painting. And the aromatic the peony is also once regarded as the main candidate of the national flower of China.