Liang Kai (Chinese: 梁楷; pinyin: Liáng Kǎi; c. 1140 - c. 1210)[1] was a Chinese painter of the Southern Song Dynasty. He was also known as Madman Liang because of his very informal pictures. He was born in Shandong and worked in Lin An (later Hangzhou).[2] He is known to have studied with the master Jia Shigu.[3] He was awarded the rank of Painter-in-Attendance at the court of Jia Tai (1201-1204 CE, Southern Song Dynasty) where he was known for mastery in painting figures, landscapes, and other minor subjects.[2] He was also awarded the Golden Belt, however he left it behind when he left his position at court to practise Chan Buddhism.[4]
Sixth Chan Patriarch Chopping Bamboo, early 13th century. Hanging scroll, Tokyo National Museum.
Painting styleedit
Liang Kai is most famous for originating or developing the "Xie Yi" (sometimes translated as "sketch style") of painting, where the objective is to evoke the subject or atmosphere with minimal use of detail; it requires a profound mastery of painting technique and perfect concentration, but also allows for the beauty of accidental effects.[5] The Xie Yi style is closely associated with the "sudden enlightenment", "mindfulness", and "spontaneity" aspects of this school of Buddhism. Works generally attributed to Liáng Kǎi include: painting of the poet Li Bai, the Drunken Celestial (A Sage), The Sixth Patriarch Cutting Bamboo, and in a more academic style, a series called the Eight Eminent Monks paintings.[2]
The Sixth Chan Patriarch in particular exemplifies Chan Buddhism. It depicts Huineng, a Chan master, crouching as he chops bamboo. This follows the idea of mundane tasks taking on spiritual value in accordance with the philosophy. The painted scene shows the patriarch's "Chan moment" in which he finally attains enlightenment through the resonating sound of the blade. The holy figure is drawn scruffy and almost caricature-like. This was meant to suggest that he is free from worldly concerns like appearance and social status/expectation. In this deceptively simple painting, Liang uses pale and wet brushstrokes. However, several dark lines are scattered throughout, as seen in the vine growing around the tree on the left side of the image, and accents on Huineng's clothing. Liang's style of abbreviated, expressive painting, along with his ability to casually create compelling images is what made him famous among Chan monks[6].
^Glum, Peter (1985). "The Two-Faced Budai". Arts Asiatiques. 40: 107–116. doi:10.3406/arasi.1985.1185. ISSN 0004-3958. JSTOR 43485392.
^ abcShen, Zhiyu (1981). The Shanghai Museum of Art. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. pp. 223–224. ISBN0-8109-1646-0.
^Loehr, Max (1980). The Great Painters of China. Oxford: Phaidon Press. pp. 215–216. ISBN0-7148-2008-3.
^"Liang Kai Paintings | Chinese Art Gallery | China Online Museum". www.chinaonlinemuseum.com. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
^Kwo, Da-Wei (1981). Chinese Brushwork, Its History, Aesthetics, and Techniques. London: George Prior. pp. 103–104. ISBN0-8390-0267-X.
^Gardner, Helen, 1878-1946. (2005). Gardner's art through the ages. Kleiner, Fred S., Mamiya, Christin J. (12th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth. ISBN0-15-505090-7. OCLC 54830091.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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February 19, 2024
liang, chinese, 梁楷, pinyin, liáng, kǎi, 1140, 1210, chinese, painter, southern, song, dynasty, also, known, madman, liang, because, very, informal, pictures, born, shandong, worked, later, hangzhou, known, have, studied, with, master, shigu, awarded, rank, pai. Liang Kai Chinese 梁楷 pinyin Liang Kǎi c 1140 c 1210 1 was a Chinese painter of the Southern Song Dynasty He was also known as Madman Liang because of his very informal pictures He was born in Shandong and worked in Lin An later Hangzhou 2 He is known to have studied with the master Jia Shigu 3 He was awarded the rank of Painter in Attendance at the court of Jia Tai 1201 1204 CE Southern Song Dynasty where he was known for mastery in painting figures landscapes and other minor subjects 2 He was also awarded the Golden Belt however he left it behind when he left his position at court to practise Chan Buddhism 4 Sixth Chan Patriarch Chopping Bamboo early 13th century Hanging scroll Tokyo National Museum Painting style editLiang Kai is most famous for originating or developing the Xie Yi sometimes translated as sketch style of painting where the objective is to evoke the subject or atmosphere with minimal use of detail it requires a profound mastery of painting technique and perfect concentration but also allows for the beauty of accidental effects 5 The Xie Yi style is closely associated with the sudden enlightenment mindfulness and spontaneity aspects of this school of Buddhism Works generally attributed to Liang Kǎi include painting of the poet Li Bai the Drunken Celestial A Sage The Sixth Patriarch Cutting Bamboo and in a more academic style a series called the Eight Eminent Monks paintings 2 The Sixth Chan Patriarch in particular exemplifies Chan Buddhism It depicts Huineng a Chan master crouching as he chops bamboo This follows the idea of mundane tasks taking on spiritual value in accordance with the philosophy The painted scene shows the patriarch s Chan moment in which he finally attains enlightenment through the resonating sound of the blade The holy figure is drawn scruffy and almost caricature like This was meant to suggest that he is free from worldly concerns like appearance and social status expectation In this deceptively simple painting Liang uses pale and wet brushstrokes However several dark lines are scattered throughout as seen in the vine growing around the tree on the left side of the image and accents on Huineng s clothing Liang s style of abbreviated expressive painting along with his ability to casually create compelling images is what made him famous among Chan monks 6 nbsp Li Bai Strolling nbsp Drunken Celestial nbsp Shakyamuni Emerging from the Mountains nbsp Poet strolling by a marshy bankSee also editShussan Shaka a painting motifReferences edit Glum Peter 1985 The Two Faced Budai Arts Asiatiques 40 107 116 doi 10 3406 arasi 1985 1185 ISSN 0004 3958 JSTOR 43485392 a b c Shen Zhiyu 1981 The Shanghai Museum of Art New York Harry N Abrams Inc pp 223 224 ISBN 0 8109 1646 0 Loehr Max 1980 The Great Painters of China Oxford Phaidon Press pp 215 216 ISBN 0 7148 2008 3 Liang Kai Paintings Chinese Art Gallery China Online Museum www chinaonlinemuseum com Retrieved 2020 03 26 Kwo Da Wei 1981 Chinese Brushwork Its History Aesthetics and Techniques London George Prior pp 103 104 ISBN 0 8390 0267 X Gardner Helen 1878 1946 2005 Gardner s art through the ages Kleiner Fred S Mamiya Christin J 12th ed Belmont CA Thomson Wadsworth ISBN 0 15 505090 7 OCLC 54830091 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Liang Kai Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Liang Kai amp oldid 1141944507, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
