The rise of literati painting in Yuan Dynasty has the same time factors and internal spiritual connection with the prosperity of Taoism, because several painting masters in Yuan Dynasty are also followers of Taoism. Zhao Mengfu, the master of painting, is the forerunner. Although he was in the imperial court, his inner spirit never left? Quiet? The word "two characters" is concise and clear in painting style, which contains Taoist aesthetic thought.
Scholars who belittled Confucianism and Taoism in Yuan Dynasty expressed their feelings through words.
A noteworthy phenomenon in the painting history of Yuan Dynasty is that quite a few painters believe in Taoism. These painters either devoted themselves directly to Taoism, or studied at home, or had certain Taoist thoughts. Their works more or less contain the aesthetic thoughts and tastes of Taoism, forming the literati painting style of Yuan Dynasty, which is clear, quiet, simple, light, elegant, clumsy, empty and far-reaching, occupying the mainstream position in the painting world and influencing the painting style between Ming and Qing Dynasties. Zhao Mengfu in the early and late Yuan Dynasty? Yuan Sijia? (Huang, Ni Zan, Wang Meng, Zhenwu) is one of the important representatives.
As early as the Yuan Dynasty, Taoism and Taoist thought had become the spiritual home of some painters. Taoism regards Laozi, the founder of Taoism, as its ancestor. Lao tze put it forward? Elephants are invisible, loud and happy? Thought has always influenced China's pursuit of freehand brushwork, spirit likeness and natural style and charm. Gu Kaizhi, Wu Daozi, Song Huizong and other painters are Taoists. In the Yuan Dynasty, the influence of Taoist thought on painters became more and more intense, and even the strange phenomenon of painters' collective debut appeared. The appearance of this phenomenon is closely related to the Yuan Dynasty rulers' policy of restraining Confucianism and worshiping Taoism.
In Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, the position of Confucianism has always been higher than that of Buddhism and Taoism (except for a few periods). After the Mongols entered the Central Plains, Buddhism and Taoism received unprecedented attention, and the status of Confucianism declined sharply. Quanzhen religion, founded by Wang Zhe, rose rapidly, keeping pace with Zheng Zheng religion, which has been circulating for thousands of years. Both of them were sheltered by the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty and enjoyed the special treatment of exemption from customs duties and taxes. In sharp contrast, the once all-powerful Confucian scholars' social status has dropped to the lowest point in history, ranking among the popular social classes in the Yuan Dynasty. Confucianism? Ranked ninth, only in? Beggar? Above. Scholars and painters are mostly Confucian scholars. Faced with the dilemma of being blocked by the imperial examination and having no way to enter the government, they devoted themselves to the development of Taoism? Tao Yuandongtian? Some people use pen and ink to express their anguish, while others integrate the quiet thoughts of Taoism into the pen, stressing interest and forming their own unique style.
Zhao Mengfu was frustrated and believed in liberation.
Zhao Mengfu, born at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, is the 11th grandson and the direct descendant of Zhao, the king of Qin. My father used to be an assistant minister of the Ministry of Finance in the Song Dynasty, and he also knew the appeasement history of Lin 'an prefecture and western Zhejiang province. He was born smart. Read, read and write for the text? When he was young, he was ambitious. But unfortunately, it didn't last long. My father died at the age of eleven, and he experienced the pain of national subjugation in his twenties. Although his fate reversed, he was still highly valued by the Yuan Dynasty and was promoted to rank and knighted many times. In his later years, he was even a senior official. However, he was rejected by powerful ministers several times, unable to display his talents and realize his ambitions. So deep down, I'm still depressed, often? Central plains people think of Wang Meng, Jiang Zuo fame shame Xie An? Sigh. At the same time, as an official of the Song Dynasty, he was criticized by his contemporaries, and he was ashamed of it. Therefore, it became his inevitable choice to pursue spiritual liberation by believing in religion, and finally he chose Taoism.
The relationship between Zhao Mengfu and Taoism can be seen from its name. His font size is many, such as Song Xue Taoist, Crystal Palace Taoist, Taoist at home, Taiwanese disciples and so on. These font sizes directly indicate another identity of Zhao Mengfu? A Taoist who practices at home. He believes in Taoism because of his family background and times background. In the Song Dynasty, the royal family always believed in Taoism, and Song Huizong claimed to be? Master, Emperor Daojun? Many royalty are Taoists, and Zhao Mengfu's ancestors are no exception. It is said that both his grandfather and father work in Taoist temple.
At the same time, Zhao Mengfu lived in an era when Taoism had the greatest influence and the widest spread. What are the five ancestors of Donghua Emperor, Zhong Liquan, Lv Dongbin, Liu Haichan and Wang Zhe that Kublai Khan enshrined in Yuan Shizu in the 6th year of Zhiyuan (AD 1269)? A real gentleman? Name the seven disciples of Wang Zhe? Real people? . In the third year of junior year (A.D. 13 10), Yuan Wuzong granted Quanzhen five ancestors? The emperor? Seven is really right? A real gentleman? Eighteen people, including Qiu Chuji disciple Yin Zhiping? Real people? . The descendants of Zhang Ling, the founder of Taoism, were also supported by Yuan. Yuan Shizu summoned the 36th generation Shi Tian Zhang Zongyan for three times and ordered him to lead Taoism in the south of the Yangtze River. In the eighth year of Yuan Chengzong Dade (A.D. 1304), Zhang Tianshi, the 38th generation, was awarded the education? Is a leader, the main leader of three mountains? . The territory of Quanzhen Road is mainly in the north, while Zhengyi Road is mainly in the south.
Make friends with Taoist priests.
In this special background of family and times, Zhao Mengfu has formed an indissoluble bond with Taoism. When he was a child, he knew Du Daojian, who was active in the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and respected Du Daojian as his teacher. Later, he studied under Liu Dabin, a Taoist priest of Maoshan School, and was also considered a Taoist priest of Maoshan School. In addition, he is also closely related to Zhang Liusun, the first master of Longhumen, and Wu Quanjie, the second master. Under the guidance of the teacher, Zhao Mengfu drew the Picture of Laozi and Xuanyuan, with biographies attached. ? Ten sons of Xuan Yuan? Refers to Guan Yinzi, Wen Zi, Geng Sang Zi, Liezi and other Taoist sages. After the Ten Pictures of Xuanyuan, Zhao Mengfu wrote:? The teacher (Du Daojian) gave way to portraits of Laozi and the Ten Sons, and adopted the words of various schools as biographies. Seeing it in the eleventh, I knew the way of Laozi, so I hid all the famous mountains in later generations. The son said that this matter can't be resigned to fate, but the immortal is an eternal friend, as if this volume was used as a beauty. ?
Zhao Mengfu, Zhang Liusun and Wu Quanjie are also close friends. He was a senior official in the Yuan Dynasty and a leader in painting. Zhang and Wu are Taoist leaders. They used to work together in Jixian College. They often exchanged ideas and forged a deep friendship. After Zhang Liusun's death, Zhao Mengfu personally wrote an inscription to commemorate it. At present, this monument is kept in the courtyard next to the main hall of Dongyue Temple in Beijing. It is a precious cultural relic for studying Taoism and Zhao Mengfu calligraphy in Yuan Dynasty.
Quanzhen Taoism takes the unity of the three religions as the banner, and Wang Zhe exhorts people to recite Buddhist Prajna Heart Sutra, Taoist Daode Sutra, Sutra and Confucian Filial Piety Sutra. Zhao Mengfu is very much in favor of this idea. He once wrote a map of the three religions and advocated the unity of the three religions. In his later years, he took pleasure in writing books of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Yuan Renzong evaluated him? Extensive knowledge, unparalleled calligraphy and painting, bypassing Buddhism and the purpose of old age are beyond everyone's reach? It can be said that it is fair.
Create a new trend of literati painting in yuan dynasty
Zhao Mengfu is? All-around artist? Poetry, books, paintings and epigraphy are all excellent, especially calligraphy and painting. Wang Ming Shi Zhen once said? Literati painting started from Dongpo and opened the door to Song Xue? ; Ming Dong Qichang called his paintings? Yuanguan? . Zhao Mengfu has achieved such high achievements not only because of his extraordinary talents, but also because of his Taoist cultivation.
Taoism advocates simplicity, which was put forward by Laozi in Tao Te Ching? Less is gain, more is confusion? This thought had a great influence on Zhao Mengfu, and was first advocated in the Yuan Dynasty painting circle? Jane? Stylistically, it is believed that pen and ink should be as simple as possible to highlight artistic conception and reveal spirituality. He yearned for the simple style of ancient painting and put forward? Ancient times? And then what? Jane? The unification of. He said in the preface scroll:? Paintings are expensive and have an ancient meaning. If there is no ancient meaning, it is useless. Today, people know the slender and rich colors of pens, so they are experts themselves. I don't know that the ancient meaning is damage, and all diseases bring. Impressed? My painting looks simple, but everyone who knows it knows it is recent, so it is better. This can be said to those who know, but not to those who don't know. ? His paintings can be simple and dense, expressing profound artistic conception.
Zhao Mengfu's "Matsushita Lao Zi Tu", right? Jane? And then what? Numerous? Handled extremely appropriately. Du Qian of A Qing Dynasty commented in Memory of a Loose Pot:? The Picture of Matsushita Laozi is just a pine tree, a stone, a rattan couch and a figure. Loose and annoying, the stone is extremely simple; Rattan couch is extremely annoying and the characters are extremely simple; The clothes on the characters are extremely simple, and the belts and crowns are extremely annoying. That is, you can feel the injustice. ?
Others think Zhao Mengfu's paintings can be used? Qing? To sum up, this? Qing? Artistic conception also comes from Taoist philosophy. Lao tze said? The sky is clear and the earth is peaceful? To a certain extent, the mind will naturally? Qing? . With your mind? Qing? , grasp the heaven and earth? Qing? . Pictures? Qing? The realm is far away. Zhao Mengfu's painting practice is the embodiment of Taoist aesthetic thought and artistic creation interest.
But Zhao Mengfu, after all, still has a normal mind, which is not the same as that of a monk who aims at getting the Tao, so he can't be stupid, let alone practice the Taoist philosophy of relying on stupidity to support his life. So his calligraphy? Turn around and flow gracefully? , its paintings are also lacking? Stupid? Taste. In the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, Fu Qingzhu and Gu Ningyuan criticized Zhao Mengfu's paintings and calligraphy with clumsy views. Nevertheless, Zhao Mengfu initiated a new trend of literati painting in Yuan Dynasty, which pointed out the direction and laid the foundation for literati painting to become the mainstream.