Six Persimmons
Encyclopedia
Six Persimmons is a 13th century Chinese painting
by the monk, Mu Qi
(Mu Ch'i), the painter better known in China
as Fa-Chang. It was painted during the Song dynasty
. Mu Qi was one of the two great exponents of the spontaneous mode of Chinese painting (the other being Liang Kai
). It features six persimmons floating on an undefined, but skillfully mottled background. It is painted in blue-black ink on paper.
The painting became famous for the tremendous skill of the brushstrokes. Their subtlety of modeling is oft remarked upon. The thick and thin brushstrokes that model the lightest of the persimmons make it seem to float in contrast to the dark one next to it. The treatment of the stems and leaves recall Chinese character
s, and reveal brush control at its highest level.
It currently resides in the Daitoku-ji
in Kyoto, Japan.
Chinese painting
Chinese painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world. The earliest paintings were not representational but ornamental; they consisted of patterns or designs rather than pictures. Early pottery was painted with spirals, zigzags, dots, or animals...
by the monk, Mu Qi
Mu Qi
Mu Qi , also known as FaChang or Muqi Fachang, was a Chinese painter and Chán monk who lived during the Southern Song Dynasty, approximately 1200-1270 CE . Born in Sichuan, he emigrated to the Southern Song capitol Lin An...
(Mu Ch'i), the painter better known in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
as Fa-Chang. It was painted during the 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...
. Mu Qi was one of the two great exponents of the spontaneous mode of Chinese painting (the other being Liang Kai
Liang Kai
Liáng Kǎi was a Chinese artist, also known as Madman Liang. He was born in Shandong and worked in Lin An...
). It features six persimmons floating on an undefined, but skillfully mottled background. It is painted in blue-black ink on paper.
The painting became famous for the tremendous skill of the brushstrokes. Their subtlety of modeling is oft remarked upon. The thick and thin brushstrokes that model the lightest of the persimmons make it seem to float in contrast to the dark one next to it. The treatment of the stems and leaves recall Chinese character
Chinese character
Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages...
s, and reveal brush control at its highest level.
It currently resides in the Daitoku-ji
Daitoku-ji
is a Buddhist temple, one of fourteen autonomous branches of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen. It is located in Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The "mountain name" , who is known by the title Daitō Kokushi, or "National Teacher of the Great Lamp," that he was given by Emperor Go-Daigo...
in Kyoto, Japan.