The four ancient arts, namely piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, usually refer to the four arts that Chinese literati admire and want to master. They are also called the "Four Arts of Literati" or the "Four Arts of Scholars."
"Qin" refers to playing the harp (mostly Guqin), "chess" refers to playing chess (mostly Go and Chinese chess), "book" refers to calligraphy, and "painting" refers to It's painting.
In ancient times, it was an art played by literati. It was a very elegant thing. It combined an art seeker's pursuit of interests and artistic accomplishment. The literati were famous for their "proficiency in everything" pride.
The reason why chess, calligraphy and painting can attract literati is that it can not only exercise people's will and cultivate people's sentiments, but also contains extremely rich, extremely profound and extremely broad philosophy and culture of life. connotation.
Extended information
Qin
In ancient China, formal music was highly valued, with "quiet and plain" as its priority, and no interest in loud and lively music. The harp, flute, and huqin all have soft tones, tranquility, and long melodies. Behind such graceful and elegant music lies a rich cultural heritage.
Confucianism pays attention to the "education" of social ethics, advocates the beauty of harmony, stability, restraint, subtlety and elegance, and rejects the temptation, noisy and obscene music.
Music. Taoism advocates nature, tranquility, inaction, weakness and harmony.
Chess
"The sound of chess can only be heard among the ancient pines and flowing water", "Idle knocking of chess pieces and falling lamp flowers", "I am happy to win, and happy to lose", the ancients played chess
The fun is evident. In his spare time, he plays chess to make friends and improve his intelligence.
Playing chess requires quality. There are various situations in playing chess, which often reflect the character cultivation of the chess players. Pan Shenxiu, a minister of the Song Dynasty, compared Go with the Tao of Confucius and Mencius, saying: "The way of chess lies in silence, and the choice is urgent. Benevolence can be comprehensive, righteousness can be guarded, etiquette can be changed, and wisdom can be combined.
Faith can overcome it.
Calligraphy
Calligraphy is an extremely popular and elegant art form in ancient China. Practicing calligraphy can regulate the mind and improve health and longevity. History
Most of the famous calligraphers in the world are longevity stars;
Ouyang Xun, who wrote "Jiucheng Palace" in the Tang Dynasty, lived to be 85 years old; he wrote "Confucius Temple"
Monument" Yu Shinan lived to be 89 years old. Contemporary calligraphers Su Juxian from Shanghai and Sun Mofo from Beijing were both over 100 years old.
Paintings
Ancient literati paintings pay attention to comprehensiveness. Cultural accomplishment advocates "reading thousands of books and traveling thousands of miles", which requires poetry, calligraphy, painting, and printing to complement each other, and character, talent, knowledge, and ideas are indispensable. >
The themes are mostly landscapes, flowers and birds, as well as plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums, which symbolize an indifferent and peaceful reclusive life, a pure and honest gentleman's style, and a noble and steadfast personality.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Four Ancient Arts