A Historical Account of Painting

Name: A Historical Account of Painting
ISBN: 9787514324662

李丹丹Modern Press · ChinaJun 2022

3.2

Word count: 63K words
Chapters: 27
ISBN: 9787514324662

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Summary

China's ancient painting tradition has a long history. From the earliest primordial era, the seeds of primitive art took root and grew in the fertile soil of China. Folk painting flourished most during the Qianlong and Jiaqing reigns, especially in small towns with thriving industry and commerce. Folk painters organized various guilds. The main genres included murals, prints, and New Year pictures.

Editor's review

Danqing Shihua is an accessible volume that systematically traces the development of ancient Chinese painting. Professor Xiao Dongfa specializes in writing popular cultural history, while Li Dandan has a professional background in art history; their collaboration gives the book both a broad historical framework and detailed analysis of specific works. Organized chronologically, it begins with primitive rock paintings and Warring States silk paintings, moves through the grandeur of Qin and Han, the elegance of Wei and Jin, the splendor of Sui and Tang, and the artistic conception of Song and Yuan, down to the transformations of Ming and Qing, clearly outlining the internal logic of stylistic change in Chinese painting. The book pays particular attention to interpreting paintings within their specific social and cultural contexts—for example, discussing the relationship between the rise of Song landscape painting and the emergence of the literati class, and analyzing the influence of the Ming commercial economy on painting subjects. This approach avoids the tedium of merely listing painters and works, helping readers understand the intellectual and social history behind art history. Although positioned as a popular introduction, the cases selected are highly representative, with concise commentary on the artistic characteristics of key figures such as Gu Kaizhi, Wu Daozi, Fan Kuan, Ni Zan, and Bada Shanren. The illustrations are not high-resolution but generally support the text. Overall, this is a well-structured, fluently written introductory book, suitable as a "first book" on the history of Chinese painting.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in traditional Chinese culture and art history
Beginners seeking a systematic understanding of the development of Chinese painting
Readers of literature and history who need supplementary background knowledge in art history
Middle school or university students looking for a general education book on traditional culture

Not a good fit for

Art history researchers seeking in-depth professional analysis or the latest academic perspectives
Readers mainly interested in Western painting or modern and contemporary art

Reading tips

Read in chapter order to build a clear chronological framework
Compare the text with images of representative works mentioned in the book
Expand reading with relevant monographs on dynasties or painters of particular interest

About the publisher

Modern Press China · Founded in 1982

Founded in 1982, Modern Press is a Chinese publisher that serves general readers across a diverse range of subjects. Judging from its catalog, its publishing focuses on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, psychological research and application, popular science, and modern poetry, along with history, biography, and children's books. The Book of Songs, the illustrated vernacular edition of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, The Complete Poems of Dai Wangshu, and Buddhism in the Vegetable Roots reflect efforts to make traditional culture and poetry accessible; works by Carl Gustav Jung such as The Development of Personality and Understanding Your Psychological Type, together with titles from the Ivy International Education Alliance, show sustained attention to psychology and educational reading; and Stephen Hawking's works and the illustrated two-volume Brief History of Everything and A Brief History of Time indicate a commitment to popular science. Its authors include figures such as Qu Wanli, Xu Ke, Dai Wangshu, and Jung, and its publishing emphasizes retelling classics and accessible, illustrated presentation. Because public information is limited, this summary is based only on the titles in our catalog.

版权信息
序言
一画开天古老源流
伏羲画八卦始创图画
史皇作图助黄帝称雄
史前岩画的出现与内涵
彩陶出现使绘画走向独立
别开生面渐入佳境
早期漆画的出现与演变
屈原招魂源起楚汉帛画
建树非凡的两汉壁画
魏晋南北朝绘画成熟阶段
技法纯熟的隋代山水画
科目众多的初唐绘画
盛唐时绘画的杰出成就
晚唐画风转向新的方向
唐代壁画发展到最高峰
五代十国及各派画风
妙手丹青开创辉煌
北宋画院高手云集
李唐举人的画派传奇
开阔多元的南宋画风
元代画界名家大展才华
画风迭变再攀高峰
明代画坛翘楚争相斗艳
各派纷呈的清代画坛
民间画作与著述的发展

FAQ

How deep is this book? Is it suitable for readers with no background at all?

The book is positioned as an accessible introduction, written in plain language with a clear structure and basic explanations of important concepts. It is very suitable for readers with no prior knowledge to build an overall understanding of Chinese painting history. However, its depth is limited and it does not delve into academic controversies or cutting-edge research.

What is the quality of the images in the book?

As a popular introduction, the book includes necessary black-and-white and color illustrations with acceptable print clarity, sufficient for basic identification and learning, though not at the level of an art album for high-definition appreciation.

How does this book differ from monographs such as The History of Chinese Painting?

This book emphasizes a narrative, coherent, and readable "historical account" style, aiming to outline the whole picture and tell the story of development. Professional works such as The History of Chinese Painting typically focus more on academic rigor, systematic structure, and in-depth analysis, covering more specialized knowledge such as schools, theory, and connoisseurship.

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About the author

李丹丹 Author · Chinese

Li Dandan, who writes under the pen name Li Xiaofei, is a member of the Dalian Writers Association and has long been engaged in research and writing on family education and child psychology. Her work spans several fields: she is the author of books on family education and psychological growth such as Reconciling with One's Family of Origin and Cultivating Children's Inner Drive, and she has served as chief editor of numerous children's books, including the “Must-Read for Growth” series. Among the 95 works held in the collection, she has also compiled a series of fine modern Chinese poetry, covering poets such as Wen Yiduo, Dai Wangshu, Xu Zhimo, Zhu Xiang, Lin Huiyin and Yin Fu, and has written the history title Five Thousand Years of China as well as the applied psychology set Understanding Personality Psychology. Her writing combines popular knowledge with reading guidance for families, young readers and general audiences, in a plain and accessible style. Public information on her dates of birth and death, education and awards is limited, and no speculation is made here.