Do you know the history of Chinese painting?

您知道中国画的发展史吗？

Do you know the history of Chinese painting?

Chinese painting is referred to as “Chinese painting”. Chinese painting is a traditional form of painting in China, which is painted on silk or paper with a brush dipped in water, ink or color. From the original rock paintings in Shandong, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and other places, and the original land paintings found in 1986 in the Earth Bay of Qin ‘an, Gansu, it has a history of no less than 5000 years.

The development history of Chinese painting is as follows:

1. Primitive Rock Painting Period (around 5000 BC): The earliest form of Chinese painting was primitive rock paintings, which appeared in Shandong, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, and other regions. These rock paintings depicted animals, people, and symbols using simple lines and patterns.
2. Shang and Zhou Dynasties Period (16th century BC – 256 BC): The Shang and Zhou Dynasties period marked the beginning of Chinese painting as an independent art form. Simple line drawings started to appear on bronze artifacts from the Shang Dynasty, indicating a departure from rock paintings.
3. Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties Period (581 – 960): The Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties period was a significant stage in the development of Chinese painting. During this time, Chinese painting gradually formed its own style and techniques, while also being influenced by Buddhism and foreign cultures. Many important painters emerged during this period, such as Wu Daozi and Li Sixun.
4. Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties Period (960 – 1912): The Song Dynasty was considered the golden age of Chinese painting, with the emergence of renowned painters like Li Tang and Fan Kuan. The Yuan Dynasty inherited the painting traditions of the Song Dynasty and developed new techniques and subjects. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, painting was greatly influenced by the imperial court and literati, giving rise to the literati painting style.
5. Modern and Contemporary Period (1912 – present): In the early 20th century, Chinese painting began to encounter Western painting techniques and concepts, leading to the formation of modern painting styles. In recent years, Chinese painting has been exploring innovation and self-expression while still preserving traditional techniques.

In summary, the development of Chinese painting has gone through different periods and styles, but it has always maintained a unique way of expressing nature and figures, as well as the inheritance and innovation of traditional culture.

The paintings of Qin and Han dynasties mainly appeared in the form of murals, paintings on silk, stone and brick. In the painting of the Wei, Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, the changes in art in the Wei, Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties were more reflected in the art of calligraphy, and regular script really appeared. Although the changes in painting art are not as significant as calligraphy, the changes in social atmosphere and the rise of Buddha worship thoughts have made the originally simple and clear painting further complicated.