Cao Buxing was the founder of Chinese Buddhist paintings during the Three Kingdoms period in the 3rd century AD. He was known for his portraits of dragons, horses, tigers and humans. Other early masters included Wei Xie, Lu Tanwei, and Zhang Sengyou, each known for specific styles and subject matter. Later influential painters incorporated styles from Central Asia, like Cao Zhongda, and developed fresco and mural techniques, like Wu Daozi. Buddhist painting evolved over dynasties from solemn early styles to more expressive styles influenced by literati painting and oil painting techniques.

2. • Found in the age of Three Kingdoms (220 -
265 AD ) at the Wu kingdom, which is located
in the southeast China.
• “Cao Buxing” is the founder of Chinese
Buddhism Paintings.

4. Cao Buxing (曹不興)
The painter of Eastern Wu ( Ruled by Sun
Quan ).
Father of Chinese Buddhist painting.
Famous in drawing dragon, horse, tiger, and
human portraits.
Sun Quan build a temple for Kang Shanghui

6. Wei Xie (衛協)
Apprentice of Cao Buxing
Export in painting god and Buddha
One of the painting sage

7. Lu Tanwei (陸探微)
Export in painting portraits
palace painter for the empire

9. Zhang Sengyou (張僧繇)
Export in drawing portrait and Buddhism
paintings
Most of paintings are frescos and murals
Come out a Different style then Lu Tanwei
and Cao Buxing
Zhang style
• "Sparse character”picture with out bones
• The used of color create a sense of 3 dimension

10. < Snow Mountain and Red Tree >

11. Cao Zhongda (曹仲達)
From central Asia
Export in portraits and clay
Cao Style
• Clothes are tight with Dense thin lines
• Like wearing on a wet clothe
• This style directly influence Sui, Tang and Song Chinese
Buddhist painters.

13. Wu Daozi (吳道子)
Expert in Buddhist paintings and portraits
Most of his paintings are fresco and murals
Wu style
Cloths and sleeves are loose

15. Buddhist painting before
Tang Dynasty (618 -
907) , reflects solemn
Buddha and bodhisattva with
calm and quiet looks.

16. After Song Dynasty, literati
painting become
flourished, which make
Chinese Buddhist painting
divided into two schools. One
inherited the Old rule and
another to uninhibited
treacherous.

17. Li Gonglin (李公麟)
Export in portrait, Buddhist, Taoism, and
horse painting.
Paint with lines which is called the “white
sketch.”
His style was influence by Wu daozi

18. Liang Kia (梁楷)
Expert in painting land scape and portraits
The most famous for developing the “Xie
Yi”painting.
Evoke the subject with minimal details.

20. Ding Yunpeng (丁雲鵬)
Expert at painting portrait and Buda
His style was influence by the Wen school.

22. Ding Guanpeng (丁觀鵬)
He study oil painting
Spend about 50 year in Palace painting
academy.
Expert in painting Buddhist and landScape
Paint in 3D

24. • Combination of Eastern and Western style
• Some times with cartoon characters
• More idealized Buddhist painting