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Chinese Ink Wash Painting Tradition

Type Object Region China Time c. 900–1000

Around the tenth century the Chinese ink wash tradition completed its transformation from Tang heavy color to Five Dynasties and Northern Song ink la…

Timeline

  1. c. 900–930Hong Valley · ShanxiJing Hao's Bifa ji (Record of Brush Methods) systematically expounded the theory of ink wash landscape, depicting northern peaks with hemp-fiber texture strokes and panoramic composition; Guan Tong inherited his methods and formed a grand and towering northern landscape style.
  2. c. 930–970Jinling · JiangnanDong Yuan pioneered level-distance ink wash landscape in Jiangnan, using hemp-fiber texture strokes and light ink washes to depict misty hills and waters; Ju Ran followed, forming the gentle and elegant Jiangnan school, which stood in a north-south opposition with the northern landscape.
  3. c. 970–1000Kaifeng · HenanThe Northern Song court painting academy took in surviving Five Dynasties painters; ink wash landscape became the mainstream subject of court painting, and painters such as Li Cheng fused northern and southern techniques, bringing the ink wash tradition into its Northern Song golden age.

Sources