Preliminary Study On Shi Tao’s One Stroke Theory

Shi Tao, a celebrated Chinese painter and poet, was especially adept at landscape painting and skillful in orchid-bamboo painting. He was also a prominent theorist, whose famous work HuYuLu has been a classic in ancient Chinese painting theory.Shi Tao’s painting theory has profound guiding significance for analyzing the practice of art of ancient Chinese painters, as well as for enlightening traditional Chinese painters in modern times. In addition, Shi Tao’s paining theory has very strong surface tension, which has profoundly affected the later ages with its boundless creativity and innovative approaches to art.Although a large number of experts and specialists through generations have made great achievements in the study of Shi Tao’s painting theory, there are still some problems and puzzles in this field for further study. For example, most of their research is confined to the textual analysis on Shi Tao’s HuaYuLu, with little attempt to probe into his painting practice, not to mention to take an in-depth look at the inter-relationship between Shi Tao’s One Stroke Theory and his painting language. Therefore, the current study on the relationship between Shi Tao’s painting theory and practice is of vital significance.The paper falls into five parts. Introduction reviews the results of research on Shi Tao’s painting and the philosophical background of his One Stroke Theory. Chapter One expounds the Principle of One Stroke from the following aspects:One Stroke Revealing Self-identity; Perception on Emotion; Enlightenment and Life. Chapter Two Philosophy of One Stroke is illustrated from these respects:One Stroke Settles, Others follow; One Stroke Unprecedented; Painting and Calligraphy Accompany. Chapter Three briefly discusses The Future Implications of One Stroke Theory. Conclusion summarizes features and achievements of One Stroke Theory.