Zhan Ziqian

Summary

Zhan Ziqian (Chinese: 展子虔; pinyin: Zhǎn Zǐqián; Wade–Giles: Chan Tzu-ch'ien; c. mid to late 6th century)[2] was a famous painter of ancient China from Yangxin County in modern-day Shandong province. His birth and death dates are unknown. It is known that in the Sui dynasty (581–618) he was appointed to the office of Chaosan Dafu (朝散大夫) and later of Zhangnei Dudu (帐内都督).[3]

Zhan Ziqian, Stroll About in Spring (游春图). This may be a copy of the earlier Sui/Tang dynasty work.[1]

According to the historical documents, Zhan Ziquan painted a number of genres and religion paintings which have not survived. He was especially noted for his paintings of pavilions and people, and horses. His paintings of people were particularly lifelike.[3] The only painting by him that survives today is Strolling About in Spring, which is a perspective arrangement of mountains. It has been cited as the earliest surviving work of Chinese landscape painting[4] or the first shan shui painting.[5]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Barnhart: Page 64.
  2. ^ Barnhart: Page 371.
  3. ^ a b CiHai: Page 1075.
  4. ^ Perkins, Dorothy (2013). Encyclopedia of China: History and Culture. Routledge. ISBN 1135935696.
  5. ^ "The Boolean 2015: Blue mountains, empty waters: the evolution of Chinese landscape painting under the influence of Chan Buddhism..(Rudi Capra, Department of Philosophy)". publish.ucc.ie. Retrieved 2018-01-26.

References edit

  • Barnhart, R. M. et al. (1997). Three thousand years of Chinese painting. New Haven, Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-07013-6
  • Ci hai bian ji wei yuan hui (辞海编辑委员会). Ci hai (辞海). Shanghai: Shanghai ci shu chu ban she (上海辞书出版社), 1979.