Chapter 58 Zhao Mengfu

When it comes to Chinese calligraphy and painting art, Zhao Mengfu cannot be avoided; when it comes to Yuan Dynasty calligraphy and painting art, Zhao Mengfu cannot be avoided.Zhao Mengfu's contribution to the development of calligraphy and painting in the Yuan, Ming, Qing and even today is so great that no one can replace him.But he was also a much condemned and controversial figure.The reason, in the final analysis, is that he became a senior official in the Yuan Dynasty as the eleventh grandson of the Song Dynasty clan and Song Taizu's direct relative.Many of his friends broke up with him because of this, and his brother Zhao Mengjian, who is also a great painter, did not want to see him, so he reluctantly let him in through the back door under the persuasion of his wife.Immediately after he left, he ordered his servants to wash the chair he had just sat on with water.His calligraphy, which is the best in the world, is called "slave calligraphy".We have no intention of apologizing for Zhao Mengfu, but only hope to respect the law of art and make a fair evaluation and introduction of Zhao Mengfu's calligraphy and painting art and his contribution to the history of Chinese painting and calligraphy, just like the tolerance of Western music circles to Karajan, who once performed for Hitler and the Nazis. "Thinking of the person makes the book thin" is not the correct attitude towards art.

Zhao Mengfu's calligraphy has achieved extremely high achievements and made the greatest contribution. It has been discussed in "Calligraphy Encyclopedia". Here we only talk about Zhao Mengfu's paintings. In the late Southern Song Dynasty, due to blind imitation of Ma Yuan, Xia Gui, etc., the painting of the Academy of Painting has entered a dead alley.Therefore, Zhao Mengfu put forward the idea of ​​reform.The change he advocated is mainly "learning from the ancients", just like he advocated learning from Jin people in calligraphy.He said: "Painting is expensive to have ancient ideas. If there is no ancient ideas, although the work is useless. Today's people only know how to use delicate brushes and paint rich and colorful colors, so they call themselves experts. They don't know that the ancient ideas are lost, and all kinds of diseases are rampant. It is not impressive. "(Quoted by Zhang Chou's "Qinghe Calligraphy and Painting Boat") Of course, "Shigu" is not the best way to solve the problem, but at least it can jump out of the dead style of Southern Song Academy painting.Zhao Mengfu still advocated "learn from nature", he said: "I have known for a long time that pictures are not a child's play, and the clouds and mountains everywhere are my teachers."

Another contribution he made was to vigorously promote literati painting.Ming Wang Shizhen once said: "Literati painting starts from Dongpo, and opens the door to Songxue." He advocated literati painting, which combines poetry, calligraphy, painting and printing in one furnace.He also advocated the use of calligraphy brushstrokes in painting. In the poem titled "Showing Stones and Bamboos", he said: "Stones are like flying white trees are like bamboos, and bamboos are still written in eight ways. If there are people who can understand this, it is necessary to know that calligraphy and painting are originally the same." Development has played a huge role in promoting.

Zhao Mengfu's landscapes, flowers and birds, figures, and animals are all excellent.Landscape studies Wang Wei, Li Sixun, Li Cheng, Guo Xi, Dong Yuan, etc., while emphasizing ancient methods such as Goucha, Cuncha, etc., incorporated the noble spirit of literati, and the lyrical meaning was obviously strengthened.He himself said: "Although the authors of the servants can't compare with the ancients, they are a little different when looking at modern painters." Dong Qichang commented on his landscapes and said: "There are Tang Zhi Zhi to get rid of the fine lines, and there are Northern Song Dynasty heroes to go. It’s rough.” He is famous for his paintings of flowers, trees, bamboo and rocks, the most famous of which is horses.

Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322), courtesy name Ziang, nicknamed Songxue, Oubo, Taoist of Crystal Palace, etc.Huzhou (now Wuxing), known as "Zhao Wuxing" in the world.There are many paintings handed down from generation to generation, including "Portrait of Su Dongpo", "Shuangsong Pingyuan Picture", "Magpie Flower Autumn Color Picture", "Water Village Picture", "Bathing Horse Picture", "Beautiful Rocks and Sparse Forest Picture" and so on.