Chinese landscape painting differs from European nature painting in its philosophical influences and portrayal of nature. Chinese landscapes were inspired by Taoism and aimed to capture the essence and spirit of nature rather than a realistic depiction. The document discusses several influential Chinese landscape painters from the 13th to 15th centuries like Chen Rong, Ni Tsan, Tai Chin, and Shen Zhou. Their paintings depicted nature as more symbolic and mystical compared to the romanticized portrayal of nature in later European works.

1. Chapter 27: China and The Romantic View of Nature Humanities 103 Beth Camp Spring 2005

2. Getting Started How would you describe Chinese landscape painting? What are the differences between European and Chinese “nature” painting?

3. A Word about Taoism Philosophy and religion of China since c. 3 Century BCE --essentially to follow the way to achieve freedom from desire and life of simplicity Later search for immortality, study of alchemy By 5 th Century integrated many aspects of Buddhism Talking about Taoism is not talking about Taoism

4. Chinese Landscape painters Ni Tsan 1301-1374 Tai Chin 1388-1462 Chen Rong (active ca. 1235-1262) Shen Zhou 1427-1509

5. Chen Rong (active ca. 1235-1262) Nine Dragons, 1244

6. Chen Rong, Detail of Nine Dragons, 1244

7. Excerpt from “Nine Dragons” “. . . The greatness that emerged from the tip of my brush cannot be found elsewhere in the world. At a distance, one feels as if the clouds and the waves were flying and moving. Viewed closely, one suspects that only a god could have painted these dragons.” Source: Tales from the Land of Dragons

8. Ni Tsan 1301-1374 Peaceful Forest after Rain The Fishing Village after Autumn Rain

10. Tai Chin 1388-1462 Returning Home Late from a Spring Outing Online exhibit National Palace Museum, Taiwan

11. Shen Zhou 1427-1509 Poet on a Mountain Top, c. 1500 Online lecture on Chinese Painting White clouds like a belt encircle the mountain’s waist A stone ledge flying in space and the far thin road I lean on my bramble staff and gazing into space Make the note of my flute an answer to the sounding torrent Trans. Michael Sullivan, The Three Perfections: Chinese Painting, Poetry, and Calligraphy

13. Constable Constable: Wivenhoe Park (1816)

14. Corot Corot: Morning, Dance of Nymphs

15. Bierstadt American Romanticism: Bierstadt, “Looking Up the Yosemite Valley”

16. Key elements of Romanticism? Religious attachment to nature Emphasize individual experience Subjective rather than objective Human moods = Nature’s moods Power of nature = inspiration + moral truth + redemption

17. What’s Next? How would you describe Chinese landscape painting ? Read more about Daoism Checkout: 3,000 Years of Chinese Painting in the LBCC Library What are the differences between European and Chinese “nature” painting?

18. Do Chinese landscape paintings show Romanticism (1800-1850)? Not a single style, technique or attitude Subjective and imaginative Emotionally intense, mystical Rebels against “classic”and “neoclassic” Emphasizes nature’s wild, mysterious, exotic, melancholic, melodramatic aspects