Cruising Between Reality And Illusion-the Evolution Of The Art Of The Four Monks Under The Influence Of Escapism

The history of adherents of a former dynasty in China is over a thousand years.The phenomenon of "adherents of a former dynasty converting to dhyana" is prosperous in the period between the Ming and Qing dynasties.Some are because they feel powerless to the breakage of a dynasty and some want to get rid of the shackles and seek a surreal relaxation.The existence of this phenomenon has specific historical backgrounds and social reasons.Various kinds of ideas and thoughts collide with each other in the period between the Ming and Qing dynasties.The adherents have affections for the former dynasty and bear rebellious emotions to the new dynasty.Therefore conflicts are triggered and intertwined reasons lead to this phenomenon.This article focuses on analyzation and exploration of the social phenomenon of "adherents and painters of a former dynasty converting to dhyana" during the social revolution when Ming Dynasty became Qing Dynasty.The article analyzes the different reasons causing the phenomenon with "Four Monks" as an example.It lists the changes of their thoughts during different historical periods and enters into the target's hearts through historical phenomena and then fully grasps the psychological journey of "Four Monks" when influenced by the phenomenon.Through analyzing historical documents and under the perspective of art history,with "Four Monks" as a typical case the article classifies the reasons for their conversion to dhyana.Then the article researches on the transformation of their thoughts and psychologies during the process of converting to dhyana.Based on their new looks appearing in the art circle,the article further summarizes that during the conversion procedure the change of the painter's artistic thoughts and aesthetic tastes under the influence of the conversion.Then it researches on the phenomenon of converting to dhyana in terms of ideological level and psychological level while combining with the research methods in intellectual history and sociology.