Author/Wishing You a Happy Birthday
Ph.D. and Professor, Department of Art History, Academy of Fine Arts, Tsinghua University
In addition to Wu Daozi, the great figure painter of the Sheng Tang Dynasty was Zhang Xuan.
Zhang Xuan was a native of Jingzhao (Xi'an), a court painter during the Kaiyuan period (713---741), probably a colleague of Wu Daozi, who entered the court 8 years before Zhang Xuan (723) in 716, Wu may be older than Zhang, Wu was mainly active in the early Tang Dynasty, and Zhang was mainly active in the late Tang Dynasty, and it is not known whether the two had any contacts. The similarity between the two is that they both embody the spirit of the Sheng Tang Dynasty, the difference is that the two have different personalities, different styles, and each has its own emphasis, Wu Duo paints men, Zhang Duo paints women.
Zhang Xuan's existing works have two, namely "Trick Painting" and "Lady Yu ChunTu", which paint the real life of palace women. All are horizontal scrolls, colored on silk, and heavily colored, all of which are copied by Emperor Huizong of Song.
Zhang Xuan's "Trick Drawing"
"Trick Drawing", now in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA, the painting is divided into three sections, respectively, painting the labor process of the palace maid's mashing, sewing, ironing, etc., showing the beauty of female labor, the characters contrast with each other, set off each other, complement each other, the whole look, vivid and natural, rhythmic sense. Two little girls interspersed in between, very cute, breaking the monotony of labor, enlivening the atmosphere, and increasing the interest.
Zhang Xuan's "Trick Drawing" (Partial)
"Lady Yu Guo You Chun Tu", now in the Liaoning Museum, painting Tang Xuanzong's favorite concubine Yang Yuhuan's sister Lady Yu Guo riding a horse, slaves leading the way and embracing the ranks, the horizontal scroll is also divided into three sections, the first three rides open the road, the last three rides follow, in the middle are Yang Guifei's two sisters Lady Yu Guo and Lady Qin Guo, the whole look, noble travel, flowers are blooming, graceful and luxurious, and the spirit is alive.
Zhang Xuan's "Lady Yu Chuntu"
In the painting, everyone looks at the front, only the lady of Qin guo and a retinue in the back look at lady Yu Guo, breaking the single and changing. The National Palace Museum in Taipei also has a collection of "Lady Yu Guo's You Chun Tu" (i.e. "Li Ren Xing Tu"), which is rich in characters and rich in color, more like Tang Feng. Shi Zai Zhang Xuan is good at kurama, as evidenced by "Lady Yu Chuntu of Yu Guo".
Part of Zhang Xuan's "Lady Yu Chun Tu of the State of Yu"
There is also a saying that the first person in front (men's green clothing) is Lady Yu guo, and Mrs. Shi Zai Yu Guo is a good men's dress. Even who is Madame Guo guo can't figure out, but no one denies that this is a good painting, it can be seen that what is painted is not important, what is important is how to paint, what is important is the beauty of the art form.
Zhang Xuan's two paintings have no background, but the history of painting says that his paintings have backgrounds, including pavilions, flowers, birds and trees, etc. It seems that these two paintings cannot represent the whole picture of Zhang Xuan's paintings.
The "You Chun Tu" collected by the National Palace Museum in Taipei is more like Tang Feng
The two paintings are divided into three sections, the front, middle and back contrast with each other, complement each other, and complement each other. The three groups of riding numbers in "Lady Yu Chun Tu" are 3, 2 and 3, and the three groups of "Trick Painting" are 4, 2, and 4 (children do not count), (a bit like football formation, forward, center, defender, this is gossip), how many characters, high and low, dense, scattered, contrasting, changing, forming rhythm, sportsmanship, drama.
The platoon is arranged, very methodical, both neat and varied, which is Zhang Xuan's best play. These two paintings focus on the depiction of characters, both thick eyebrows and thin eyes, straight nose and small mouth, plump and beautiful, elegant and gorgeous, natural and vivid, simple and beautiful, is the typical image of Zhang Xuan's lady, can be called the most beautiful figure painting in China.
Zhang Xuan was active in the late Tang Dynasty, and like Wu Daozi, he had a great influence at that time, even as far east as Japan and as far west as Xinjiang. The existing screens similar to Zhang Xuan's painting style in Japan and Xinjiang can illustrate this problem.
The "Bird Hair Standing Female Screen" collected by The Shosoin Ofan Temple in Nara, Japan, and the screen unearthed from the Astana Tang Tomb in Turpan, Xinjiang are real screens, extremely well-painted, plump and gorgeous, feminine and moving, which is Zhang Xuan's painting style. It just so happens that the history of painting also says that Zhang Xuan is good at painting "barriers" (screens) and "famous in time".
The Torikari Female Screen, collected by Shosoin in Japan, was painted in the mid-8th century and is basically white on paper, dyed only in the flesh part of the lady (face and hands), and is flat painted.
This screen is six screens, each will draw a Tang dress beauty, or sitting or standing under the tree, beautiful woman thick eyebrows, thin eyes, small mouth, flowing clothing, indicating the silhouette, to paste colored bird feather decoration, the so-called "neon coat feathers", unfortunately the rainbow of bird feathers has now fallen off, revealing white paper.
Nara Higashidaiji Shokura-in Temple "Torii Tachibana" screen
Beautiful women are plump and gorgeous, feminine and moving, "thick and far from the true, delicate texture and flesh and bones" (Du Fu's poem), although the painting is far away in Japan, the person in the painting is Chang'an fashion. This painting is natural and vivid, simple and beautiful, which is exactly the style of Zhang Xuan's painting in the Sheng Tang Dynasty.
Nara Todaiji Shosoin Shosoin "Torii Ritsugu" screen, partial
Xinjiang Tang tomb unearthed three folds of screens, is the real screen made of wooden frame silk, the Tang Dynasty (the first half of the 8th century), the silk book color work heavy color, now only the female chess, dance music, horse herding, etc., depicting the palace life of the capital Chang'an, is Zhang Xuan's best play.
Xinjiang Turpan Tang Tomb Unearthed "Go Lady Figure"
Xinjiang Turpan Tang Tomb unearthed screen "Dance Music Diagram"
The Tang tomb in Turpan, Xinjiang, unearthed a silk painting of "Lady Figure"
The lady is also thick eyebrows, thin eyes, small mouth, the whole look, plump and colorful, vivid and concise, but also reflects the Tang Dynasty Zhang Xuan painting style, and the artistic level is very high, in the Zhang Xuan school of painting should be superior. The female figurines excavated from this tomb are also like this, which also belong to the Style of Zhang Xuan. The history of painting also says that Hu Shang sold the paintings of Zhang Xuan and Zhou Fang and obtained rich profits, which shows that the paintings of Zhang Xuan and Zhou Fang are best-selling in Central Asia.
The Astana Tang Tomb in Turpan, Xinjiang, unearthed a silk painting of a maid
The above-mentioned Chinese and Japanese screen paintings were all made in the Sheng Tang Dynasty (the first half of the 8th century), and Zhang Xuan was still alive and working tirelessly. Zhang Xuan's paintings stretched from Japan in the east to Xinjiang in the west, and were widely welcomed, and they were truly "famous in the time" and indeed a master with international influence. What is even more surprising is that Zhang Xuan has enjoyed such a wide range of international reputation and international influence when she was alive, which is rare in the history of world art.
The Tang tombs in Turpan, Xinjiang, were unearthed
Xinjiang Turpan Tang Tomb unearthed screen "Wrangling Horse Map"
Fragments of the screen unearthed from the Tang Tomb in Turpan, Xinjiang, are now in the United Kingdom
Fragments of the screen unearthed from the Tang Tomb in Turpan, Xinjiang, are now in Japan
The murals of Wei's tomb in the Tang Dynasty in Xi'an are also painted with similar female screens. It is also six screens, but each screen draws two people, one master and one servant, the painting is clumsy, crude, sloppy, not as mature as the above-mentioned Japanese and Xinjiang screens, authentic, it seems that it is painted by ordinary folk painters, and it is copying Zhang Xuan's painting style. The ladies in the mural "Music and Dance Diagram" of The Tomb of Han Xiu in Xi'an are also like the ladies painted by Zhang Xuan, and this tomb mural should be influenced by Zhang Xuan's painting style, and Zhang Xuan is still alive at this time.
At the end of the Tang Kaiyuan Dynasty, The mural of Wei's tomb in Xi'an NanliWang Village, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, six screens "The Handmaid Under the Tree"
Xi'an Han Xiu tomb mural "Music and Dance Diagram"
Zhang Xuan is good at painting women, does not paint Buddhist themes, and has no record of painting Buddhist paintings, but her painting style has influenced Buddhist art. Although the above-mentioned works of Zhang Xuan and his school of painting are all secular paintings, with such a huge social influence and international influence of Zhang Xuan's painting style, Zhang Xuan's painting style will definitely affect the Buddhist art of that time (Sheng Tang).
What's more, Chinese Buddhist art is separated from secular art, and the history of Chinese Buddhist art has never been divided into painting and sculpture. Although Zhang Xuan has no record of painting bodhisattvas, his female paintings will inevitably become a sample of the Bodhisattvas of the Tang Dynasty.
The Tang people generally believed that "heavenly women are like a trickster" and "bodhisattvas are like palace dolls", so it is natural to shape bodhisattvas like women to refer to female paintings. Since then, the bodhisattva in Chinese Buddhist art has become a real woman, and as the most beautiful landscape, she has begun to appear on the big stage of Chinese art.
The central government influenced the localities, and the Bodhisattvas of the Sheng Tang Dynasty were generally influenced by Zhang Xuan's painting style, and Dunhuang was no exception. Dunhuang Sheng Tang mural, the best illustration of Zhang Xuan's painting style influencing Dunhuang is the 130th Cave Sheng Tang mural "Du Du Lady Li Fo Tu", this painting is actually a portrait of a real person, painted extremely beautiful, painted very well, should be the most beautiful figure painting in China.
Facsimile of Dunhuang murals, Cave 130 "Lady Of the Governor's Li Fo Tu"
The painting is divided into two groups, the front group is three mother and daughter, the back group is nine slaves, the front is sparse and the back is dense, contrasting with each other, complementing each other, complementing each other, lining up the troops, very methodical, both neat and varied, which is also Zhang Xuan's best play. The characters are also thick eyebrows, thin eyes, small mouths, plump and beautiful, graceful and luxurious, beautiful modeling, beautiful color, beautiful line drawing, and beautiful style, which can be compared with all the paintings of the above Zhang Xuan school, and can be appreciated as Zhang Xuan's paintings, although it is painted by an unknown painter.
Facsimile of the Dunhuang murals, part of Cave 130 of the "Lady of the Governor's Li Fo Tu"
It is a great pity that the original painting has been destroyed, and only the facsimile remains. How could an unknown painter in a remote desert grotto paint a masterpiece comparable to that of the first-class painters of the chang'an court in the capital? It can be seen that there is unlimited wisdom and creativity among the broad masses of the people, and it is really "the master is in the folk". One is a great artist, the other is a great craftsman, which can be said to have its own advantages.
The painting was made in the mid-8th century, 30 years after Zhang Xuan served the court (723), when Zhang Xuan may still be alive and he was not heard after the Anshi Rebellion.
There are two paintings of male and female shaving in the 445th cave of the Sheng Tang Dynasty, 3, 3 and 4 people before and after the male shaving degree (children do not count), and 4, 3 and 8 people before and after the female shaving degree, which is also concentrated and scattered (dense), has a sense of rhythm, and is arranged in a very orderly manner. The male shaving degree is somewhat feminine, but it is also plump and beautiful, graceful and luxurious. The whole look is vivid, concise and bright, and also reflects Zhang Xuan's painting style.
Dunhuang Sheng Tang Mural Cave 445, male shaved
Dunhuang Sheng Tang Mural Cave 445, female shaving
There are also a large number of bodhisattvas in the Dunhuang Sheng Tang murals, which are also very beautiful, "bodhisattvas like a palace baby", but also curved eyebrows, straight eyes, small mouth, plump and soft, graceful and beautiful, vivid and concise, showing the feminine beauty of women, but also showing the influence of Zhang Xuan's painting style, such as the bodhisattva portraits in caves such as the 66th, 217th, 205th, 320th, 103rd, etc., are all "S" shaped bodies, plump and healthy, full of style, completely Zhang Xuan-style beauty.
Dunhuang Murals, Sheng Tang Bodhisattva, Cave 66
Dunhuang Murals, Sheng Tang Bodhisattva, Caves 45 and 33
Dunhuang Murals, Caves 45 and 33
Among the colorful sculptures of the Tang Dynasty, the bodhisattva is the most beautiful. Still mentioned in the aforementioned several Sheng Tang Caves (Caves 45, 320, 384 and other caves) as an example, if the male gods are influenced by Wu Jia-like, then these goddesses and bodhisattvas are influenced by Zhang Xuan's painting style, showing Zhang Xuan's vivid, concise, feminine, elegant and other characteristics.
The 45th colored sculpture in Dunhuang
Dunhuang Cave 320 painted sculpture, painting and sculpture consistent
Cave 384 of Dunhuang
For example, the "s" shape of the body of the 45th Cave Bodhisattva is graceful and colorful, plump and feminine, feminine and moving. Another example is the 384th Cave Bodhisattva, which is simple and vivid, beautiful and soft, and fully demonstrates the beauty of women. Another example is the 320th Cave Bodhisattva, whether it is the front painted sculpture or the back mural, it is graceful, feminine and moving, and full of feminine beauty. The above two aspects, murals and painted sculptures, illustrate the influence of Zhang Xuan's painting style on Dunhuang. Zhang Xuan also influenced the Middle Tang Dynasty, and the great Zhou Fang Zhou family was influenced by Zhang Xuan.
In short, the two greatest figure painting masters of sheng tang are Wu Daozi and Zhang Xuan, and their paintings are vivid and vivid, concise and concise, full of vitality, showing the great atmosphere of Sheng Tang.
But the two are very different, Wu Daozi paints more male gods, Zhang Xuan specializes in painting women, Wu painting is fierce, bold, full of passion; Zhang painting is gentle, elegant, and more rational. Wu painting heavy line drawing, Zhang painting heavy color, Wu painting with white light color, Zhang painting with heavy color with a brush. Zhang is later than Wu, and from the perspective of paintings, Zhang Xuan should be the intermediate link in the transition from wu jiafang of Wu Daozi of Sheng Tang to Zhou Fang Zhou jia of Zhongtang Zhou. Wu Daozi and Zhang Xuan of the Sheng Tang Dynasty are among the few masters of Chinese painting with international influence.
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