In 'Remarks on Painting by the Bitter Pumpkin Monk,' Shitao discusses calligraphy theory. Shitao the Philospher (04:44)īamboo, flowering cherry, and pine trees portend winter's arrival in 'At the Foot of Mount Jinting'- a small man meditates by the hut. Shitao incorporates yin, yang, and Taoist theory into his painting. The human area, the forest, the mountain separate the painting into three parts.

'At the Foot of Mount Jinting': Interpretation (03:29)Īlthough Shitao entitled the work 'At the Foot of Mount Jinting,' most of the elements of the painting were located by Mount Huang. There are 8 different tones of black and white throughout the painting, which help create depth. Shitao generates interest by placing contradictory lines of composition adjacent. White surfaces separate and divide the different portions of the painting. 'At the Foot of Mount Jinting': Composition (03:00) Chinese calligraphers believed paintings should be sparse and sober. Shitao incorporated both 'at the straight point' and 'at the slanted point' techniques into his paintings. Study of Calligraphy (04:03)Īpprentices would study nature and learn the skill- it took several years to become adept. Chinese calligraphers use three different types of brushes: ruan hao, yin hao, and huan hao. 'Mount Jinting in Autumn' is a vertical roll of calligraphy, and only was shown for special events. Horizontal rolls of rice paper are read from right to left. A painter recreates the image before him aligning it to the 'Tao'- Yin and Yang produce 10,000 beings. In Chinese landscape is call Shan shui (mountain and water). After spending ten years near Mount Huang, Shitao travels to Zuacheng. Buddhist Monks recognized his talent as a calligrapher and painter. Shitao was born Zhu Ruoji- in 1644, when he was three years old, Manchurians killed his family.

He signed the painting as Shitao and also with a psuedonym, Loa Tao- Shitao means frozen wave. Listen to a letter written by Shitao where he mentions other prominent Chinese artists. Shitao: Introduction (03:26) FREE PREVIEWįolk legend tells of Wu Tao-Tzu, who entered a landscape he painted and disappeared.

Ni Hao, Li Huan Ying instaling