Chinese Painting

Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.

So, Mat, what’s your big question today?

(Mat)

Hello and welcome back to another episode. Today we will be looking at the topic of Chinese paintings. Now I know something about painting, because when I was a student I studied art and I learned how to paint, but I have never really understood Chinese painting. Let me explain, when I think about painting – I imagine lots of thick paint, in all different colours, portraits of people or dramatic landscapes. But when I think about Chinese painting, most of these elements seem to be missing. So, I guess my question is … why?

(Jocelyn)

Well, Chinese painting is different from Western painting because of its development over many thousands of years, and this really influences the style and materials. Chinese paintings usually show nature, like mountains, trees and animals. And the paintings are often simple and focus on balance and harmony. And the artist is not trying to paint a realistic portrait or landscape. In Chinese paintings, many things have deeper meanings. For example, a bamboo plant can show strength. And there is a lot of symbolism going on, so you need to be able to interpret this symbolism if you want to truly appreciate Chinese painting.

(Mat)

OK, so this seems like a good starting point. Tell me more about this symbolism.

(Jocelyn)

Symbolism in Chinese painting helps to tell stories and convey messages. Objects and animals in the paintings can have special meanings. For example, as I said before, bamboo can represent strength and flexibility, while a plum blossom can symbolize hope and perseverance. Birds might represent freedom and happiness. And the symbols help people understand the deeper message behind the painting. To appreciate Chinese painting, it's important to learn about these symbols and what they mean. This way, you can enjoy the beauty of the painting and understand the story the artist wants to share. 

(Mat)

OK, I think I have a clearer understanding already. A lot of Chinese paintings show mountains and trees and sometimes water, like a waterfall. So, what does that symbolize?

(Jocelyn)

Well, in Chinese paintings, mountains, trees and water, like waterfalls, often represent or show harmony with nature and the balance between different elements. Mountains can represent stability, strength, and a connection to the spiritual world. Trees can stand for longevity and resilience. Water, such as waterfalls or rivers, symbolizes the flow of life, change, and the passage of time. By including these elements in their paintings, Chinese artists try to express the beauty and power of nature, as well as the importance of living in harmony with it.

(Mat)

OK, so I think I get the content, the symbolism. But I’m still a little unclear about the materials. Why are most of the paintings just black without any colour?

(Jocelyn)

Well, most Chinese paintings use black ink because of the tradition and the unique look it creates. In traditional Chinese art, artists use ink and brushes to paint on silk or rice paper. And the black ink allows them to create different shades and textures with just one colour. Using only black ink also adds a sense of simplicity and elegance to the paintings. However, some Chinese paintings do have colour, but it's usually not as bright or bold as in Western art. The focus is more on brushstrokes, lines, and overall feeling of the painting, rather than on vivid colours.

(Mat)

Actually I know that calligraphy in a handwriting is a very important part of Chinese artistic tradition, sometimes when I see a traditional Chinese painting it almost feels like a combination, it’s part picture, part writing. Sometimes the paintings have words written on them, as part of the picture. Am I right here? 

(Jocelyn)

Yes, you're absolutely right! Calligraphy is a significant part of Chinese artistic tradition, and it's closely connected to painting. Both calligraphy and painting use similar tools, like brushes and ink, and share similar techniques. In many traditional Chinese paintings, you'll see words or poems written on them. And these can be either an important part of the picture or added later by the artist or collectors to express their thoughts about the artwork. The combination of picture and writing in Chinese paintings adds an extra layer of meaning, making the art form even more unique and poetic.

(Mat)

OK, I think we’ve done really well today. At the beginning of the episode I knew nothing about Chinese painting but now I think I’ve learned quite a lot.

(Jocelyn)

OK, don’t get too excited, Mat. Understanding all the different aspects of Chinese painting is very complex, even for most Chinese people. So, the most important thing is just to enjoy it. Don’t try to think too much about deeper meanings, just let the pictures speak to your feelings, and you’ll get a lot more out these wonderful works of art.

Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.

中西方绘画艺术犹如两座形貌各异的山峰，虽然同样具有令人回味无穷的艺术感染力，但却各成一体。

中西方绘画在色彩运用和对色彩的感受上显然有所不同。中国传统的绘画是以墨调色，与西方绘画以油色烘染出的立体感、明暗透视等有巨大差异，在厚与薄、深与浅、淡与浓等多组矛盾中求得视觉性效果。中国古代画论中认为，墨具有五色：焦、浓、重、淡、清等；墨色之中又分为六彩：黑、白、干、湿、浓、淡。中国传统绘画黑白不分，是无阴阳明暗；干湿不备，是无苍翠秀润；浓淡不辨，是无凹凸远近。中国的绘画艺术以直觉的方式来感觉色彩的万千变化，而西方绘画艺术，整体上则是倾向于光学意义上的，更加富于几何精神和理性的思考。

西洋画是表象的，非常的写实，讲究的是对自然的真实表现。西方画家认识和把握自然的方式是纯客观的，始终贯穿着以科学精神为基础，画家观察研究自然的方法主要是对景写生。中国画重在写意，这个写意可不是大概其意，写的是意象、理想，写的是画境、意境。所以有那么一句”诗中有画，画中有诗”的说法。

几千年来，中国画瑰丽多彩、绵延相继，即使是在世界文化大碰撞、大融合的今天，也仍显夺目光彩，这是与中国画意象特性的审美观分不开的。

摘自《中西方绘画差异的分析》