Experiencing Chan Through The Brush

Chan painting is one of the most mysterious realms of Chinese painting. It is the ancient philosophy of Chan Buddhism manifested through a single painting in a few quick strokes. This seemingly simple form a painting actually holds a deep wisdom that is the quintessence of traditional Chinese painting and thought. Although Chan painting reached its peak during the Tang and Song Dynasties, having an enormous influence on artists until the late Qing Dynasty, today its practice is virtually extinct. Thus the author believes researching this form of painting, which fuses a practice of Buddhism with a process of painting, has value to revive its dying practice, providing new thought and avenues of understanding to current practices of painting. From the perspective of the author as a westerner living in China, including the author’s previous experience living in Japan, this thesis will endeavor to analyze Chan painting’s specific process of painting with ink. Further the author will attempt to dissect Chan Buddhism’s influence and affect on the artist, exploring how the practice of Chan Buddhism passes through the entire creative process of Chan painting, and in the end becomes manifested through ink. Finally, integrating the author’s actual practice of Chan Buddhism and Chan painting, this investigation will attempt to reconnect Chan painting to its original form.