FAMOUS CHINESE PAINTINGS, ARTISTIC TREASURES
With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the most culturally unique nations. Over many centuries, Chinese artists have created paintings that are now in the hearts of more than a billion people.
Nymph of the Luo River—Gu Kaizhi
The legend has it that Cao Zhi, a prince of the state of Cao Wei, fell in love with the governor’s daughter. However, she married his brother, Cao Pi, and the prince became upset. Later, he composed an emotional poem about the love between the goddess and common people. In the 4th century, Gu Kaizhi, a Chinese artist, was moved by the story and illustrated the poem.
Court Ladies Adorning Their Hair with Flowers—Zhou Fang
During the Tang Dynasty, China had a prosperous economy and flourishing culture. In this period, the genre of “beautiful women painting” enjoyed popularity. Coming from a noble background, Zhou Fang, a Chinese artist, created artworks in this genre. In his painting, the ladies stand as though they are fashion models, but one of them is entertaining herself by teasing a cute dog.
Along the River During the Qingming Festival—Zhang Zeduan
Zhang Zeduan depicted the landscape in his work Along the River During the Qingming Festival. However, instead of concentrating on the vastness of nature, he captured the daily life of the people of Bianjing, present-day Kaifeng. His work shows much about life in the Northern Song Dynasty.
A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains—Wang Ximeng
Not only did officials and scholars enjoy listening to music, but they also found pleasure in depicting nature. One such painter was Wang Ximeng. He was a prodigy. Wang Ximeng painted A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains when he was only seventeen years old. He died several years later, but he left one of the largest and most beautiful paintings in Chinese history.
1. Where do you think this passage is taken from?
A.A novel. | B.A travel journal. |
C.A magazine. | D.A book review. |
2. What can we learn from this passage?
A.Wang Ximeng created his masterpiece in his teens. |
B.Nymph of the Luo River is a poem written by Cao Zhi. |
C.Zhou Fang painted fashion models in his painting. |
D.Zhang Zeduan’s painting describes daily life of officials. |
3. Which is your best choice if you want to enjoy a painting with the beauty of nature?
A.Nymph of the Luo River—Gu Kaizhi. |
B.A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains—Wang Ximeng. |
C.Court Ladies Adorning Their Hair with Flowers—Zhou Fang. |
D.Along the River During the Qingming Festival—Zhang Zeduan. |