Directory of Famous Paintings of the Tang Dynasty (Free Public Edition Book)

The first chronological history of biographical paintings in China. The author is a native of Wu County. He lived from the Yuanhe reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty to the Huichang reign of Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty (806-846). Zhu Jingxuan wrote this book based on the principle of "search for his traces, do not record those who do not see them, and write down those who see them". The book divides paintings into four categories: figures, animals, landscapes, and buildings and houses. It focuses on figures and evaluates more than 120 painters of the Tang Dynasty, including Wu Daozi, based on the four qualities of "spirit, wonder, energy, and ease." The three grades of ", Miao, and Neng" determine their character, and they are divided into three categories: upper, middle, and lower. They are particularly informal and have unique items to show their advantages and disadvantages. "First, indicate the painting subjects that each painter is good at in the catalog, and then write a short biography, briefly describe the traces, and comment on the painting skills. Among the painters who were awarded the highest rank, Wu Daozi was designated as one of the most famous painters. He called it "the best in the world and the best in the country." What is striking is that unlike Zhang Yanyuan at the same time, he placed the "natural" style at the end of the painting. Although there are some errors in the records in this book, most of them are relatively accurate. It is a pioneering work to briefly describe the events in his character. It set a precedent for later generations and preserved a lot of historical materials for the painters of the Tang Dynasty.