Figure Painting

Of all types of the traditional Chinese paintings, figure painting has the most cognitive value and instructive significance. It covers various aspects of the feudal society such as morality and human relationships, ethics and rites, historical stories, legends and fairy tales, social customs, religion, Buddhist monks and Taoist priests, beautiful ladies and portraits, and has an apparent didactic function. It reflects to a great degree such aesthetic and artistic thinking of Confucian scholars as being reined and cultivated, and being above vulgarism, all of which were propagated in the highly harmonious form of art so as to rectify one's mind and make people abstain from their desires. Observed carefully, a strong national sentiment can be perceived in most of the traditional Chinese paintings. The painters used their superior painting techniques and rich imaginative qualities to depict the material and spiritual life of the people of all ranks.