In Chinese culture, the pine tree is commonly used as a symbolism of gentlemen, representing virtues of self-discipline and fortitude. The emergence of the philosophy of solitude in Han and...

Nov 9, 2024 · Painting: Traditional Chinese landscape paintings often feature pine trees prominently, showcasing their majestic form against serene landscapes. Poetry: Many classical poets have penned verses that extol the virtues of pine trees, using them as metaphors for strength and resilience.

Dragon Pine was painted for Zhang Yuchu, the forty-third Daoist "pope" of the Orthodox Unity sect, and bears his appreciative colophon. This animated pine recalls an account by the tenth-century hermit-painter Jing Hao that describes "a gigantic pine tree, its aged bark overgrown with lichen, its winged scales seeming to ride in the air.

This spare, enigmatic scene represents a revolutionary redirection in Chinese painting. Zhao Mengfu reduces his "painted" landscape to a set of calligraphic brush conventions, with the rocks executed in "flying-white" cursive and the pines outlined in unmodulated seal script.

Title: Eagle on a pine tree. Artist: Qi Baishi (Chinese, 1864–1957) Date: mid-20th century. Culture: China. Medium: Hanging scroll; ink on paper. Dimensions: 68 1/8 x 21 1/2 in. (173 x 54.6 cm) Classification: Paintings. Credit Line: Gift of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, in memory of La Ferne Hatfield Ellsworth, 1986. Object Number: 1986.267.216

In Chinese thought, the always green and fragrant pine, though bearing twisting branches, reaches up to the skies with its straight and powerful trunk like an upright person imbued with the strength and virtue to overcome all adversities.

At the center of the painting, a robed scholar kneels on the ground beneath a twisted pine. The pine claws in the air like a dragon. The scholar is quietly playing a (chin) (“chin”), or zither, while looking into the void of the far distance.

At the center of the painting, a robed scholar kneels on the ground beneath a twisted pine. The pine claws in the air like a dragon. The scholar is quietly playing a qin (“chin”), or zither, while looking into the void of the far distance. The scholar with his qin is the focus of the painting.

Chang often placed his gentleman-scholar subjects in a landscape setting and associated the figures with different floral motifs such as pine, a traditional symbol for longevity and integrity. The energetic brushwork of the gnarled branches and needle-like leaves projects a rugged strength in contrast to the tranquil image of the gentleman.

Bamboo and pine trees are very common designs in Chinese brush painting. Both plants are very important symbols in Chinese culture. Pine trees are evergreens and keep their green needles through the long winter. They are a symbol of long life. Bamboo looks very delicate, but because it bends in strong winds and does not break, it symbolizes ...