Preliminary Research On "Hundred Cai Luohan Atlas"

Shi Tao has a profound influence as a painter in the history of Chinese painting.His works embody the trend of social criticism since the middle period of Ming Dynasty in earth Qing Dynasty,displaying great creativity.Meanwhile,his works were influenced by Dong Qichang who belonged to "South and North Style".The works of Shi Tao,which are typical of "Four Monks",form a distinctive contrast to that of "Four great painters with Wang as surname".While the former upheld "learn from the past to create something new",the latter persisted in sticking to the past.Shi Tao showed great talent in paintings of mountains,waters,flowers,birds,figures and calligraphy.During his old age,he created the most valuable work of art called "Records of Words by Kugua Monk" in the field of Chinese painting history and aesthetics history.Judging from inheritance and influences of Shi Tao,his "Records of words" and paintings on mountains and waters are the most prominent.However,his figure paintings,which mainly include arhats were not attached great importance to.Xie Zhiliu,the collector of the last century once said that Shi Tao's painting of figures were better than his works on mountains and waters,especially the traditional Chinese realistic painting.It is not until we discovered Shi Tao's "Painting of a Hundred Arhats"are we taken by awe by his craftsmanship in painting figures.However,there have been different opinions on the authenticity about this work.The thesis aims to research around this particular work mainly from five aspects.First is about life and procedure of how he formed his art style and the brief interpretation of "Records of Words",which is for a rough understanding of Shi Tao in a broad sense.By doing so,target audiences may learn about Shi Tao's uniqueness during the propaganda.What's more,we are offered a benchmark to refer to.Second,the article will probe into the authenticity of "Painting of a Hundred Arhats".Since the work was discovered,there have been different opinions on it.Zhu Liangzhi from Peking University made a detailed reasoning on the issue.The chapter shall make a description with Mr.Zhu's conclusion.Thirdly,the article will research on the painting skills of Arhat in this painting.From the period when Buddhism was introduced to China and later assimilated into Chinese culture,the art of Buddhism was developing as well,of which the typical case includes the Chinese style of art,namely the birth of Arhat.In Ming and Qing dynasties,the painting of Arhat has undergone a long history.The status of Shi Tao's painting of Arhat and his unique features are what this chapter is going to talk about.Fourthly,the article will research on the content of painting in the "Painting of a Hundred Arhats".The article shall discuss details on background of landscape painting and animals.Fifth,the article will probe into the cultural aesthetics of "Painting of a Hundred Arhats" from Shi Tao's thoughts of aesthetics in his early works.Sixth,the article will talk about the author's opinions on the meaning or inspiration from this work on the modern art practitioner.There are values in the "Painting of a Hundred Arhats" by Shi Tao whose status in the art of history is worth us reflecting as well.