A Discussion On The Pen And Ink Spirit Of Painting Of Wu School In Ming Dynasty-----A Clear View From The Perspective Of History

Chinese ink wash painting of flowers and birds is one kinds of Chinese painting. With its unique aesthetic pursue, it aims at conveying the painter’s conception and mood. Though monochrome, the ink can express the richness and beauty sufficiently.Painting was well-developed in Yuan Dynasty, typified by those works by the men of letters. They think highly on morale, quaintness and their own feelings. Coupled with the highly developed painting techniques at that time, Chinese ink wash painting of flowers and birds was popular with those literary figures.Under the domination of Mongolian, the scholars were not fully valued and all their emotion and feelings suppressed and buried, what’s more, Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism made them value inner-cultivation. They shifted to resort to different spiritual sustenance. As the Confucianism said "Let the will be set on the path of duty; Let every attainment in what is good be firmly grasped; Let perfect virtue be accorded with; Let relaxation and enjoyment be found in the polite arts.", they used ink and brush to express their pent-up feelings frankly in their paintings. Apart from carrying on the traditions of Song Dynasty, they found a more expressive form, changing from the decorative and intricate painting technique to brushwork and a more simple style. Emotions were expressed by the subjects they painted. As a result, the Chinese ink wash painting of flowers and birds was greatly developed.From Yuan Dynasty, to Ming and Qing, even to today, ink and wash is well received by many artists. By the study of the morale of Chinese ink wash painting of flowers and birds in Yuan Dynasty, with what mood can we express the modern spirit in paintings.