Record of Little-Known Painters

李放Jun 2024

Rating 3.3

Word count: 49K words
Chapters: 221

Summary

Traditional Chinese thought has a long and enduring history, marked by a high degree of originality, inventiveness, and literary quality. Early intellectual forms are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and the Hundred Schools of Thought, feng shui and arcane studies, the Twenty-Four Histories, and local customs and geography—all are profound and extensive. This "Essence of Classical Chinese Culture" series preserves the original appearance of the books, with emphasis on conserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers may cultivate their temperament and subtly come to appreciate the classics of Chinese learning.

Editor's review

The Painter Zhixi Lu is a historical source work on painters compiled by Li Fang, gathering records of painters' deeds and anecdotes of the painting world across successive dynasties; it bears the clear features of traditional painting-history notes. This book is published in its original form, with emphasis on conserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture, and provides reference material for studying the lives of ancient Chinese painters, the transmission of painting schools, and the evaluation of painting. Its value lies in preserving the ancients' original perspective in recording painters and painting matters, allowing readers to appreciate the language and choices of traditional painting-history writing; it is helpful for painting and calligraphy connoisseurship, the study of art history, and research on traditional culture. The book's arrangement leans toward a compilation of historical sources; its narration is concise and involves a great many ancient figures and painting terminology, so reading requires some grounding in classical Chinese and a habit of verification. It is suitable as material for focused study and desk reference, not for those expecting a continuous story or popular exposition.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Scholars, teachers, and students engaged in Chinese art history and painting-history source research
Readers interested in the lives of ancient painters and anecdotes of the painting world
Professionals in painting and calligraphy collection and connoisseurship, and enthusiasts of traditional culture
In-depth readers with classical Chinese reading ability who are accustomed to verifying historical sources

Not a good fit for

General readers hoping for popular painting stories or light reading
Beginners lacking a classical Chinese foundation who are unwilling to use reference works

Reading tips

Read the preface and editorial notes first to understand the book's arrangement and the provenance of its sources, then proceed to the main text.
Read alongside a general history of Chinese painting or a dictionary of painters to help identify figures and their periods.
Mark personal names, painting titles, and terminology as you read, and use reference works to verify and understand them.
Read selectively by figure or topic rather than straight through from beginning to end.

版权信息
画家知希录自序
画家知希录卷一
东野
宫
熊
冯
洪
宗
龚
锺
江
支
施
池
糜
司马
舒
余
疏
徐
诸
涂
虞
朱
蒲
胡
画家知希录卷二
屠
吴
巫
卢
卢
都
瞿
殳
俞
嵇
倪
黎
崔
梅
雷
陈
秦
文
殷
元
孙
袁
樊
韩
端木
潘
官
甘
画家知希录卷三
田
钱
萧
姚
焦
乔
饶
包
毛
高
曹
陶
罗
何
柯
过
沙
车
查
畲
杨
章
张
画家知希录卷四
王
房
方
强
梁
庄
黄
唐
康
姜
羊
汤
汪
杭
画家知希录卷五
彭
成
方
程
荆
丁
邢
经
滕
曾
凌
应
尤
刘
楼
侯
周
留
邹
欧阳
金
任
林
谈
谭
阎
严
詹
画家知希录卷六
董
孔
项
史
邱
裘
牟
李
纪
吕
许
褚
鲁
祖
杜
武
浦
闵
尹
恽
阮
管
简
赵
鲍
左
马
贾
蒋
景
柳
沈
范
画家知希录卷七
仲
宋
季
帅
魏
费
顾
傅
路
喻
厉
计
蔡
贝
戴
印
靳
万
段
宦
晏
卞
邵
谢
夏
华
尚
向
郑
孟
盛
邓
窦
缪
廖
画家知希录卷八
谷
陆
祝
睦
郁
岳
栗
毕
朮
葛
笪
薛
郭
郝
莫
石
白
易
翟
叶
聂
法
画家知希录卷九
释
道
编阙门

FAQ

What kind of book is The Painter Zhixi Lu?

It is a historical source work on painters compiled by Li Fang, recording the deeds of painters across successive dynasties and anecdotes of the painting world in the manner of traditional painting-history notes. Published in its original form, it is a source document on ancient Chinese painting history, suitable for focused reference and research rather than as a popular narrative about painting.

What background knowledge is needed to read this book?

A basic ability to read classical Chinese and a general grasp of the outline of Chinese painting history are recommended. The book involves many ancient names, official titles, and painting terms; reading alongside a dictionary of painters, a general painting history, and reference works, and verifying unfamiliar content promptly, will make the reading smoother.

Can this book be used to systematically study Chinese painting history?

It is not suitable as a systematic textbook on its own. The book emphasizes the compilation of historical sources, and its arrangement does not present the development of painting systematically by period. It is better used as a supplement of primary sources alongside a general painting history, for looking up painters' deeds and corroborating details of painting history; it works best when read together with general-history works.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

李放 Author

Li Fang is a Chinese author about whom relatively little is known; public information is limited, and no clear record exists of his native place, dates of birth and death, or educational background. Four of his works are currently held in the collection: Huang Qing Shu Shi (A History of Calligraphy in the Qing Dynasty), Hua Jia Zhi Xi Lu (A Record of Painters' Obscure Fame), a traditional-character edition of the same title, and Wen Gu Zhi Jin (Reviewing the Old to Understand the New). The existence of two editions of the painters' record suggests that his writings circulated in different periods. His subjects center on the history of painting and calligraphy and on figures of the past, and his writing is marked by careful compilation of historical sources and textual research. He often records artists and anecdotes in the form of notes and sketches, in plain prose that pays attention to provenance. The title Wen Gu Zhi Jin likewise reveals an inclination to use the past as a mirror for the present. His works are often classified under Eastern philosophy, indicating that readers find in them reflections on tradition and life. Despite the limited material, his efforts to preserve records of painters and calligraphers offer useful clues for those studying Qing-era art and letters.