A Study On The Painting Thought Of Xiu Huihong In The Northern Song Dynasty

As an eminent monk of Rinzai branch in Buddhism in the late Northern Song Dynasty Huihong Shi is titled “Best monk in Song Dynasty” due to his high attainments in Chan philosophy, history of Chan, poetry, calligraphy and painting,and so on. With his unique painting theory as the research direction, this paper discusses the following four aspects:Firstly, with his friends circle as a starting point, this paper analyzes Huihong’s painting activities in the panorama of painting history of Northern Song Dynasty. Through Huihong’s contact with the then monks of Chan Buddhism, it explores his influence on them. Though the study of Huihong’s association with scholars like Tingjian Huang and Shi Su it discusses the relationship between Huihong and the literati group. Through the analysis of the appreciation of Huihong’s works and the restoration of his aesthetic orientation,the understanding of Huihong’s aesthetic idea of "free expression" and“spontaneous imagination” is greatly promoted.Secondly, through discussion of painting and Buddha nature, this paper tries to understand the relationship between painting and Chan monks. Huihong, as a highly-respected Chan monk in the field of literature and art, has steered the means of “no establishment of words and letters” in Chan Buddhism towards a new state of “not leaving words and letters”. He makes painting a tool for enlightenment, practices Buddhism with brush and ink, which gains deep appreciation from Chan monks and monk painters.Thirdly, since the guiding ideology of “Buddhahood upon enlightenment” is greatly favored by literati of the Northern Song Dynasty, Huihong’s aesthetic idea of "free expression" becomes the essence of Chan painting, which is not only widely accepted by Chan monk painters, promotes the development of the essence-oriented style of ink and wash painting, but also influences the formation of “ink play” aesthetics in literati painting.Fourthly, Huihong regards "free expression" as the specific requirements of Chan painting, and advocates “spontaneous imagination” at the same time to be the painting guidance, which has great impact on the later development of Chan painting.Through paintings the essence of Buddha dharma can be understood. To Huihong, brush and ink is the practice of Buddhism and painting is a way to enlighten sentient beings. Hence those who have achieved Samadhi can come and go freely without obstacles.