Xiang And Bimo

Painting is an art form that presents visual images on a two-dimensional plane. In representing images,traditional Chinese painting has its own philosophy as well as aesthetic requirements.Ancient people developed Chinese culture through their understanding of the universe and nature;and painting is one of the most significant components of their culture.Chinese painting derives its origin from the special concept of xiang(象,object, form,or image).Xiang is an intrinsic attribute of traditional Chinese painting, which is neither representation nor expression.The relationships between si (似,resemblance) and zhen(真,true),as well as xing(形,appearance,look) and shen(神,spirit),embody the relationship of xing and xiang.People in the twentieth century generally misunderstood that yingwu xiangxing(应物象形, correspondence to the object) is to paint an object as it appears.The theories of yida guanxiao(以大观小,viewing the small from the big),changxing(常形, regular form) and changli(常理,convention) are necessary to view objects in the making of traditional Chinese painting.When conducting quxiang(取象,viewing the object),the artist will experience the mental process of guan(观,observe),gan(感,feel) and ying(应,react or response).Eventually,the artist achieves the unity of zaohua(造化,creation or nature) and xinyuan(心源,source of feelings) during his or her process of artistic creation.Traditional Chinese painting pursues the charm of xiangwai (象外,beyond the object).Through understanding xu(虚,void),bai(白, blank)and bimo zhiwai(笔墨之外,beyond the brush and ink),the artist expresses his or her mastering of youwu(有无,being and not being) and yinxian(隐显,concealed and clear).In traditional Chinese paiting,Jian(简, concise) and pingdan(平淡,mild[temperament]) is the ultimate goal.Qiyun (气韵,spirit,tone and atmosphere) of painting is developed from the artist's comprehension of the universe and life.Buzhiyuwu(不滞于物,not restrained by objects) is the prerequisite of qiyun shengdong(气韵生动,spirit resonance or vitality).Bimo(笔墨,brush and ink) is the essence of traditional Chinese painting. Moreover,jin(筋,sinews),gu(骨,bones),rou(肉,muscles),xue(血,blood) and shen bring life to bimo.The two most important characteristics of bimo are writing and generating.Qi(气,spirit,vital force) is the impetus of bimo.Qiyun is embedded in the power of brush and ink.