Buddhist Influence essays

Buddhist Influence essays During the Five Dynasties period, between the fall of the Tang and the beginning of the Song Dynasties (960c.e.), conditions of political and military decline greatly affected Chinese artwork. Many artists began associating much of their artwork to scenic and monumental images in nature. Guo Xi, acclaimed one of the greatest Chinese artists of this style, demonstrated these scenic and monumental images in his hanging scroll painting of Early Spring. Xis use of mist, trees, valleys, waterfalls and depth of an overwhelming mountain, which encompasses the piece, is greatly discussed in many of his writings. These historical writings set the framework for much of Xis scenic images. Although Xis images can only be seen through the creativity of his artwork, his writings explain the methods of creating these lifelike scenes. Some of Xis most important methods of creating lifelike pieces are the visual effect of his paintings, which is eminent in his writings on atmosphere and spatial recession. Xi explains three types of distances high distance, deep distance and level distance- that contribute to the continuity and realistic attributes of Early Spring. He also describes the different techniques of drawing from each distance. Looking from the base of the mountain, which Xi describes as high distance (figure 1.1) the viewer can appreciate the grandeur features of the houses, valleys and mountain above. The clear and bright features of the trees, rocks and water at the base give the viewer a sense of closeness. Deep distance (figure 1.2), which is viewed from the front of the mountain, gives the viewer a glance of the mountain from a distance. The mist in the middle of the piece obscures the intricate details of the houses and covers much of the valley entrance. This method of deep distance accom panied by the obscurity of the mist in relation to surrounding objects; giv ...