| In the existing literature, there is only few words about "The theory of Southern and Northern Sects", it was not a systematic theory. However, in its spreading process, new meanings were integrated into the theory, which made it become a complex ideal system. The theory concludes many aspects of the Ming dynasty, for example, politics, literature, art, ideology and so on. "The theory of Southern and Northern Sects" summarized a long landscape painting history which can be dated from Tang dynasty to Ming dynasty. The theory points out that there were two clues of the development of Chinese landscape painting. One faction follows the example of Wang Wei, while the other faction follows Li Sixun.The question of the author about "The theory of Southern and Northern Sects" has been puzzled many scholars for years. Based on the research of senior scholar, I contend that the earliest author of this theory may be Mo Shilong. Dong Qichang and Chen Jiru, especially Dong, played an important role in its development and spreading process.The reason why this theory occurred in Ming dynasty is not only because artistic circle's factors, but also historic and ideology factors. Before the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the East and West idea occupies the mainstream in Chinese concept; after the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Southern China was developed gradually. In Ming Dynasty, capitalism appears in southern China where enjoyed a unbreakable economic status.However its politic status is not as high as its economic status. "The theory of Southern and Northern Sects" was once used as a tool to enhance the status of southern China; The literature and philosophy also played an important role in the appearance of the theory.In addition, as the minister of rites and prince's tutor, Dong Qichang had many friends in political and artistic circles, he had incomparable advantage to popularize "The theory of Southern and Northern Sects" than any other else. His personal preference in landscape painting guided the aesthetic fashion in Ming Dynasty. He and "The theory of Southern and Northern Sects" launched an aesthetic movement of literati painting, which influenced Ming and Qing Dynasty deeply. |
