Four Gentlemen
Encyclopedia
The Four Gentlemen, also called the Four Noble Ones, in Chinese art
refers to four plants: the orchid, the bamboo
, the chrysanthemum
, and the plum blossom. The term compares the four plants to Confucianist junzi
, or "gentlemen". They are most typically depicted in traditional ink and wash painting
and they belong to the category of bird-and-flower painting
in Chinese art.
The Four Gentlemen have been used in Chinese painting since the time of the Chinese Song Dynasty
(960–1279) because of their refined beauty, and were later adopted by artists in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. As they represent the four different seasons (the orchid for spring, the bamboo
for summer, the chrysanthemum
for autumn, and the plum blossom for winter), the four are used to depict the unfolding of the seasons through the year.
The Four Gentlemen are an important subject matter in learning to paint in the aforementioned Asian traditions, as they embody all the basic brush styles. They are also depicted in Mahjong tiles
.
In Korea the Four Gentlemen were also known as the Four Gracious Plants. Rules differed from the Chinese in certain ways. In particular, the orchid needed to imitate the shape of the eye of a bird or the legs of a mantis. One can find the hidden figure of mantis legs and the eyes of an eagle in the flower.
Related to the Four Gentlemen are the Flowers of the Four Seasons, which consist of the orchid (spring), the lotus (summer), the chrysanthemum
(autumn) and the plum blossom (winter). They contain three of the elements of the Four Gentlemen.
Chinese art
Chinese art is visual art that, whether ancient or modern, originated in or is practiced in China or by Chinese artists or performers. Early so-called "stone age art" dates back to 10,000 BC, mostly consisting of simple pottery and sculptures. This early period was followed by a series of art...
refers to four plants: the orchid, the bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
, the chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...
, and the plum blossom. The term compares the four plants to Confucianist junzi
Junzi
Junzi or nobleman, was a term used by Confucius , to describe his ideal human. To Confucius, the functions of government and social stratification were facts of life to be sustained by ethical values; thus his ideal human was the junzi...
, or "gentlemen". They are most typically depicted in traditional ink and wash painting
Ink and wash painting
Ink and wash painting is an East Asian type of brush painting also known as ink wash painting. Only black ink — the same as used in East Asian calligraphy — is used, in various concentrations....
and they belong to the category of bird-and-flower painting
Bird-and-flower painting
Bird-and-flower painting is a kind of Chinese painting named after its subject matter. Normally, most bird-and-flower paintings belong to the scholar-artist style of Chinese painting....
in Chinese art.
The Four Gentlemen have been used in Chinese painting since the time of the Chinese Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
(960–1279) because of their refined beauty, and were later adopted by artists in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. As they represent the four different seasons (the orchid for spring, the bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
for summer, the chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...
for autumn, and the plum blossom for winter), the four are used to depict the unfolding of the seasons through the year.
The Four Gentlemen are an important subject matter in learning to paint in the aforementioned Asian traditions, as they embody all the basic brush styles. They are also depicted in Mahjong tiles
Mahjong tiles
Mahjong tiles are tiles of Chinese origin that are used to play many games, most notably Mahjong and Mahjong solitaire. Although they are most commonly tiles, they may also refer to playing cards with similar contents as well.- Construction :Traditionally, Mahjong tiles were made of bone, often...
.
In Korea the Four Gentlemen were also known as the Four Gracious Plants. Rules differed from the Chinese in certain ways. In particular, the orchid needed to imitate the shape of the eye of a bird or the legs of a mantis. One can find the hidden figure of mantis legs and the eyes of an eagle in the flower.
Related to the Four Gentlemen are the Flowers of the Four Seasons, which consist of the orchid (spring), the lotus (summer), the chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...
(autumn) and the plum blossom (winter). They contain three of the elements of the Four Gentlemen.
External Links
- Paintings of the Four Gentlemen at China Online Museum