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Understanding Chinese Paintings |
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When viewing Chinese paintings, especially for the first time, you may have many questions about what you are seeing. Here are some common guide to help unsderstand Chinese paintings. For example, the four noble plants are the bamboo, orchid, chrysanthemum, and plum blossom in Chinese paintings of plants.
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Fish in Chinese paintings
Chinese paintings depicting fish are very popular for the home and business. The Chinese word for fish sounds much like the Chinese word for "abundance and affluence" so the fish symbolizes prosperity and wealth.
A Chinese painting with nine fish symbolizes long term prosperity and wealth.
A Chinese fish painting that depict fish and lotus has the meaning "Year after year may you live in affluence". The fish most seen in Chinese paintings for business is the carp. The carp symbolize a wish for benefit or advantage in business. A Chinese painting showing a child with a fish means: May you have an abundance of high ranking sons.
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Bamboo of Chinese Paintings
Always green in color, bamboo is a symbol of old age and modesty. Chinese paintings with bamboo and plums together represent man and wife. As Bamboo does not die in the winter but remains upright and evergreen even in the harshest of weather, bamboo symbolizes long friendship and a bringer of great happiness. Bamboo, pine trees, and plums commonly seen together in Chinese paintings are known as the "Three Friends in Winter". In Chinese paintings of plants, the four noble plants are the bamboo, orchid, chrysanthemum, and plum blossom. A bamboo twig or branch is one of the emblems of the goddess of mercy, Guanyin. Bamboo is one of the first subjects a Chinese artist will learn to paint yet it is said painting bamboo takes a lifetime to master.
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Crane of Chinese Paintings
The crane is a symbol for longevity. Chinese paintings with cranes are very common and also may include other symbols of longevity such as pine trees and mountains. Two cranes flying upward towards the sun has the meaning or wish of "rising high" in life. Next to the phoenix, the crane is the most celebrated of birds in Chinese folklore and is attributed with many mythical powers.
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Horse of Chinese Paintings
Renowned in legend and story, the horse is a popular theme found on traditional Chinese paintings. The horse is the seventh creature in the Chinese zodiac and regarded as a noble animal. In Chinese mythology the Chinese horse is used to symbolize the male principle (Yang) and the cow to symbolize the female principle (Yin).
The most recognized Chinese horse paintings are by the famous Chinese artist Xu Beihong (1895-1953). Many Chinese horse paintings found today were inspired by this famous artist.
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Lotus of Chinese Paintings
Very popular within in Chinese culture, the lotus is one of the most often painted flowers. Mainly thanks to the Buddhist influence, the lotus (or sea-rose) is of unique importance in Chinese folklore and symbolism. It is the symbol of purity. The lotus comes out of the dark muddy waters but is not itself soiled. It is inwardly empty yet outwardly upright, has no branches but yet smells sweet. The words for lotus in Chinese have the same meanings as "to bind or connect (such as in marriage), one after the other, uninterrupted, to love, and modesty". It is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism. Chinese paintings with lotus are typically very elegantly painted and many include birds or fish.
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Peony of Chinese Paintings
Chinese peony paintings are hung in the home for good luck and in the office place for a good, prosperous business. Known as the flower of riches and honor, the peony is a emblem of wealth and distinction. It is also regarded as an omen of good fortune. An emblem of love and affection and 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, that of brightness and masculinity.
Deep red peonies are known as “ink”, the white peony as "jade" and the cream peony as bright. Most highly prized are the red ink peonies with a yellow mark on the petal edge. Red Chinese peonies are typical found on Chinese paintings although other colors may accompany them.
Chinese Peony Displayed with Other Flowers. When peony flowers and peaches are put together, they mean lasting wealth and rank. Peony and lotus blossoms painted together symbolize glory, splendor, wealth, and high rank. When peony and Chinese flowering crabapple blossoms are displayed together, they form to symbolize family honor and distinction. When peony and narcissus blossoms are together, they symbolize wealth and rank of the divine beings. When peony and longevity stone form a design, they represent wealth, rank, and longevity. And when peony, lotus, and chrysanthemum flowers are put together, they form a design symbolizing wealth and rank in all seasons.
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Buddhism Art in Chinese Paintings
Buddhism was introduced into China in the 1st century AD. With it came Buddhist art, mainly painting and sculpture. The religious art at the temples and the rock caves at Dunhuang, Yun Kung, and Lung Men, greatly influenced Chinese art. However the most significant influence on the future development of Chinese art was the establishment in the 7th century of Ch'an Buddhism (Zen Buddhism in Japan). The Ch'an practice, through intuition and search for man's nature and soul, greatly influenced the development of Chinese philosophy and art. With respect to Buddhist art, the monk-artists were masters of the Ch'an school. The Ch'an school rules of art were: Black is the predominant color used, extremely simple strokes are employed and, the expression of the art, whether it be a landscape or a still-life, lies beyond the mere rendering of the form. The art should be contemplative rather than decorative in order to reflect the intuitive faculty.
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Chinese Brush Painting
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