顧愷之 | Gu Kaizhi | 364 - 406 | Bijin #16

Gu Kaizhi (active 364-406 CE) was Chinese Imperial Court painter of the Six Dynasties Period ( 220-589 CE ). Kaizhi first began painting or brushwork more accurately in the court of Emperor Fei of Jin   ( 342-383 CE ) in Eastern Jin ( 220-420 CE ), later promoted into the court as an Officer. He was also known for his poetry, calligraphy and writings on painting theory such as Introduction of Famous Paintings of Wei and Jin Dynasties (魏晉勝流畫贊) so when you find a 52 word title assignment you cant find in a Library search tool, we have this tool to blame.[1]

                                     Wise and Benevolent Women (c.400[1200]CE, PD) Gu Kaizhi

 

Kaizhi entered the Imperial system as the son of an Imperial Bureaucrat aged 20.[1] He worked under numbers of different feudal lords as part of their courts, which served porimnent roles in Confucianist philosophy in spreading correct morals and ethics to the illiterate masses by art. Only a few of Kaizhi's handscrolls survive today, as they were made on silk lengths and often are handed down to us in copies made centuries later and in another artists hand.[1] Of the surviving works most are illustrative of the mindsets at the time. 

The Admonitions of the Court Instructress 

Court Instructor pours over her Instructions (400[900]CE, PD) Gu Kaizhi

The Admonitions scrolls is a Satirical scroll depicting 9 tales about Empress Jia Nanfeng ( 257 - 300 CE ) to warn women about the evils of being a woman. Essentially, Jia comes to power as a 'dark skinned' woman and who to retain her life often has to fight against a system bent on destroying her. Her ascent is marked by power struggles (3-4 'coups') for having the 'gall' to assist her disabled husband and also to take numerous lovers at a time men had entire harems of wives, set against a backdrop of instability due to infighting by Male military leaders for her throne. The court scroll was supposed to 'take her down a peg' and to 'behave virtuously'. Essentially an early Wu Zetian figure.[2]

The whole saga: Her father refused to take a job on, so instead decided to marry his daughter Jia to marry the then Crown Prince who had some kind of developmental disorder. Indeed, she was nearly rejected becuase her baby factory womb was thought to be cursed to only make undesirables girls, and becuase she was of colour. Yep. When she was 14, she married a 12 year old, whom it seems admired her. Allegedly, she killed members of the imperial harem when they became pregnant, but curiously was spared by the reigning Empress. When assisting her disabled husband with writing, the court took this to mean he was disabled and that she was emasculating 'controlling' him. Eventually, no desirables sons were born and she became Empress in 290 CE. She is then said to have 'denied' another concubine access to their son, and in a fit of rage fear for her life started a coup against herself conspirators. Squabbling infighting began amongst the men, prompting another coup which seems to have been blamed on Jia who then took on full control behind the silk curtain, assisted by 'honest men'. Ignoring the fact that men can apparently have a bloody harem and kill anyone at will and that Jia being polyamorous is apparently a problem, the squabblers then decided to have a third coup, this time of Jia, only to not do so. Jia also at this time was more active in marriage matching, putting presumably 'uglier' women in positions of some authority. Apparently she then decided to have a Crown Prince intoxicated he got drunk and write a treasonous letter in 299. She only had him made a commoner, she instead had her political rivals (other women) executed. She was then 'advised' by a male 'lover' to get the now Commoner assassinated so that the 'lover' could depose Jia and take the throne. Eventually she was forced to abdicate and commit S in 300 CE in a coup by the same 'lover' who conveniently went on to write the historical record of his triumph.

A woman's virtue values gentleness; she conceals beauty within, and is pure and perfect.

Gentle and meek, virtuous and careful, her proper place is in the chamber.

When she gets married the girl arranges her robes and ties up her apron; respectfully she prepares the household meals.

Solemn and dignified in bearing, with pure virtue she gazes up reverently.[3]

The Nymph of the Luo River

The River Nymph looks back at the mortal (c.400[1200] CE, PD) Gu Kaizhi

A story retelling a princes wet dream about an incarnation of a river. The Nymph is a heavenly beauty, really the only acceptable kind of beauty at this time. They exchange gemstones and the nymph seems to consult with Nuwa, the mother goddess who seems to be like, no he's just a clay creation come on you have better gemstones at home Luo. So Luo travels on her whale and returns to Nuwa atop a jade phoenix.[4]

Wise and Benevolent Women

The Duchess of Wey, Lady Nanzi (c.400[1200], PD) Gu Kaizhi

Benevolent is a biographical scroll derived from Ancient Chinese imperial Court Records which culminating in the Song Dynasty ode 'Wise and Benevolent Women' by the reigning Empress of the time. In the image above, you see the more particular intended effect of this work, which was meant to show intelligent and literate women of high society which the literati of the time wanted the general hocus pocus masses to follow their example. Ms Nanzi ( active 534 - 480 BCE ) was an established scholar in her own right and ardent philosopher who was known down the Weys of History for her friendship with Confucius (551-479 BCE).

Included in these ranks were the beautiful and savvy, one of these examples being the Han Empress Zhao Feiyan ( c.45 BCE - 17 CE ) known as a great beauty of Han China who was plucked from obscurity to live in the Palace. We shall remember her for her ability to work the damn ploppy court politick she and her sister Hede found themselves in to their favour. Feiyan had a very slender build and was often compared later on with Yang Guifei due to her voluptuous Tang beauty. As for Kaizhi's version, its locked behind  'Open Access' gates so I have no clue.

During his later career, he served under the great patron Huan Xuan ( 369-404 CE) who kept all his art on his art-boat, stole Kaizhi's own collections to add to the eponymous art-boat.[1]

Metaphorical Beauty

The types of Beauties that Kaizhi drew from mostly were delved from  the historical annals of Imperial China in the court system of concubinage. The beauty standard drew thus from black hair with precious stones, slim build and small features. These were what drew court artists to their subjects, with commissioners more concerned over the subjective morals and ethics implicit to the text. Artists in a sense supplemented rather than subverted at this time to make a career for themselves. Women subjects in particular were deemed as more suitable for submissiveness, and often did not take leading roles other than as beauties in this way. This does not mean women did not have roles, just that they were more of an anomaly generally in their discipline.

Considering the types of Beauty that were societally acceptable in Kaizhi's time, we find a mostly patriarchal response to feminine efforts. Admonitions for example was the chastisement of an Empress, even though it in some ways tried to flatter the same Empress. Benevolent was a total whitewash of these figures in many ways, portraying figures centuries after their death based on social memory and the Nymphs of heaven often really being the only acceptable kind of heteronormative desirable beauty, in that it did not exist on Earth and heralded from the Peach Gardens of Eternity. Mr. Ling for instance was one for encouraging the biting of the peach. He was gay.[5]

When considering figure painting Kaizhi regarded not dress or posture as important, but how the expressiveness, particularly of the face as being done as most important.[1] When we consider all of the above and that humility came before beauty as a social gain, we must use the Luo Nymph as the standard for Kaizhi's prototype-Bijin as we understand beauty today. The Nymphs stand alone in their narrative scenes, they engage with their environment and their body language expresses their emotion. When we think therefore of the Kaizhi Bijin ideal, it is one of the otherworld, a metaphoric beauty that cannot be attained or desired socially by women, it instead speaks more to vanity and lust of the male desire than to a social interest to be visually appealling or socially desirable.

In context therefore, we see that the Kaizhi Bijin reveals much of the thinking and court politick of the Sixy Dynasties period, a turbulent time in which China was undergoing one of its many civil wars, power struggles and lethal men squabbles. The Bijin figure is represented as one of almost vice, lust and desire but only for the deserving few. Mortal women are certainly not meant to attain this level of control, and were repirmanded for thinking they could attain this level of desire in their own heteronormative relationships themselves. The Kaizhi Bijin therefore, is more a projection of male fantasy and the male gaze which asks almost impossible standards for earth women, and rather unreponsive and dismissivemiss glances for heavenly ones.

Bibliography

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gu_Kaizhi

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jia_Nanfeng

[3] From The Admonitions Scroll on Womens 'place in society'

[4] https://eclecticlight.co/2017/05/02/chinese-narrative-painting-the-nymph-of-the-luo-river/

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Ling_of_Wey

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Nanzi

 Bijin Series Timeline

11th century BCE

- The Ruqun becomes a formal garment in China (1000 BCE) [Coming Soon]

8th century BCE

- Chinese clothing becomes highly hierarchical (771 BCE) [Coming Soon]

2cnd century BCE

        - The Han Dynasty

0000 Current Era

Xi Shi (flourished c76); [Coming Soon]

1st century

        - Han Tomb portraiture begins as an extension of Confucian Ancestor Worship; first Han aesthetic                                scholars dictate how East Asian composition and art ethics begin

                       - Isometric becomes the standard for East Asian Composition (c.100); Dahuting Tomb Murals

                       - Ban Zhao introduces Imperial Court to her Lessons for Women (c106);                                      Women play major roles in the powerplay of running of China consistently                                until 1000 CE, influencing Beauty standards

                       - Qiyun Shengdong begins to make figures more plump and Bijin-like (c.150) but still pious

4th century

Gu Kaizhi (active 364-406); Metaphorical Beauty

        - Chinese Artists begin to make aesthetic beauties in ethereal religious roles of heavenly Nymphs

                       - Luo River Nymph Tale (c.400)

          - Womens clothing emphasized the waist as the Guiyi (Swallow-Tail Flying Ribbons) style (c.400)

                       - Wise and Benevolent Women (c.400)

5th century

          - Chinese Art becomes decadent; Imperial Culture begins to see more expression in religious statues (c450)

                       - Longmen Grotto Boddhisattvas (471)

6th century

           - Women begin writing Pining Love poetry inspiring many artists

Xu Ling; (active 537-583); Gongti or Palace Bijin [Coming Soon] https://www.jstor.org/stable/495525?seq=2#metadata_info_tab_contents

7th century

            - Tang Dynasty Art (618-908)

           - Rouged Bijin (600-699 CE) [Coming Soon] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Paintings_of_the_Tang_Dynasty

Yan Liben (active 642-673); Bodhisattva Bijin [Coming Soon] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A1.jpg Guan Yin 

Wu Zetian (active 665-705); The Great Tang Art Patron [Coming Soon]

Asuka Bijin (c.699); The Wa Bijin

8th century

            - Princess Yongtai's Veneration Murals (701) [Coming Soon]

- Introduction of Chinese Tang Dynasty clothing (710)

- Sumizuri-e (710)

Yang Yuhuan Guifei (719-756); [Coming Soon] East Asian Supermodel Bijin https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/275768522.pdf https://factsanddetails.com/china/cat2/4sub9/entry-5437.html#chapter-5

Zhang Xuan (active 720-755); [Coming Soon]

- What is now Classical Chinese Art forms

                    - An Lushun Rebellion (757) 

 Zhou Fang (active 766-805) ; Qiyun Bijin

- Emakimono Golden Age (799-1400)

9th century

                       - Buddhist Bijin [Coming Soon] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Paintings_of_the_Tang_Dynasty#/media/File:Noble_Ladies_Worshiping_Buddha.jpg + https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogao_Caves#/media/File:Anonymous-Bodhisattva_Leading_the_Way.jpg

10th century

                       -End of Tang Art (907)

13th century

                     - Heimin painters; 1200-1850; Town Beauty

15th century 

- Fuzokuga Painting schools; Kano (1450-1868) and Tosa (1330-1690) 

Tang Yin (active 1490-1524); Chinese Beauties [Coming Soon] https://www.comuseum.com/painting/masters/tang-yin/ 

16 century 

- Nanbanjin Art (1550-1630) 

- Wamono style begins under Chanoyu teachings (c1550-1580)

- Byobu Screens (1580-1670)

 - End of Sengoku Jidai brings Stabilisation policy (1590-1615)  

17th century  

- Land to Currency based Economy Shift (1601-1655)

- Early Kabuki Culture (1603-1673) ; Yakusha-e or Actor Prints

- Machi-Eshi Art ( 1610 - 1710) ; The Town Beauty

- Sumptuary legislation in reaction to the wealth of the merchant classes (1604-1685) 

- Regulation of export and imports of foreign trade in silk and cotton (1615-1685)  

Iwasa Matabei (active 1617-1650) ; Yamato-e Bijin  

The Hikone Screen (c.1624-1644) [Coming Soon]

- Sankin-Kotai (1635-1642) creates mass Urbanisation  

- Popular culture and print media production moves from Kyoto to Edo (1635-1650); Kiyohara Yukinobu (1650-1682) ; Manji Classical Beauty

- Shikomi-e (1650-1670) and Kakemono-e which promote Androgynous Beauties;

 Iwasa Katsushige (active 1650-1673) ; Kojin Bijin

- Mass Urbanisation instigates the rise of Chonin Cottage Industry Printing (1660-1690) ; rise of the Kabunakama Guilds and decline of the Samurai

- Kanazoshi Books (1660-1700); Koshokubon Genre (1659?-1661)

- Shunga (1660-1722); Abuna-e

Kanbun Master/School (active during 1661-1673) ; Maiko Bijin 

- Hinagata Bon (1666 - 1850) 

- Ukiyo Monogatari is published by Asai Ryoi (1666) 

Yoshida Hanbei (active 1664-1689) ; Toned-Down Bijin

- Asobi/Suijin Dress Manuals (1660-1700)

- Ukiyo-e Art (1670-1900)

Hishikawa Moronobu (active 1672-1694) ; Wakashu Bijin

- Early Bijin-ga begin to appear as Kakemono (c.1672)  

- Rise of the Komin-Chonin Relationship (1675-1725)

- The transit point from Kosode to modern Kimono (1680); Furisode, Wider Obi 

- The Genroku Osaka Bijin (1680 - 1700) ; Yuezen Hiinakata

Sugimura Jihei (active 1681-1703) ; Technicolour Bijin 

- The Amorous Tales are published by Ihara Saikaku (1682-1687)

Hishikawa Morofusa (active 1684-1704) [Coming Soon]

- The Beginning of the Genroku Era (1688-1704)

- The rise of the Komin and Yuujo as mainstream popular culture (1688-1880) 

- The consolidation of the Bijinga genre as mainstream pop culture 

- The rise of the Torii school (1688-1799) 

- Tan-E (1688-1710)   

Miyazaki Yuzen (active 1688-1736) ; Genroku Komin and Wamono Bijin 

Torii Kiyonobu (active 1688 - 1729) : Commercial Bijin

Furuyama Moromasa (active 1695-1748)

18th century

Nishikawa Sukenobu (active 1700-1750) [Coming Soon]

Kaigetsudo Ando (active 1700-1736) ; Broadstroke Bijin

Okumura Masanobu (active 1701-1764)

Kaigetsudo Doshin (active 1704-1716) [Coming Soon]

Baioken Eishun (active 1710-1755) [Coming Soon]

Kaigetsudo Anchi (active 1714-1716) [Coming Soon]

Yamazaki Joryu (active 1716-1744) [Coming Soon]

1717 Kyoho Reforms

Miyagawa Choshun (active 1718-1753) [Coming Soon]

Miyagawa Issho (active 1718-1780) [Coming Soon]

Nishimura Shigenaga (active 1719-1756) [Coming Soon]

Matsuno Chikanobu (active 1720-1729) [Coming Soon]

- Beni-E (1720-1743)

Torii Kiyonobu II (active 1725-1760) [Coming Soon]

- Uki-E (1735-1760)

Kawamata Tsuneyuki (active 1736-1744) [Coming Soon]

Kitao Shigemasa (1739-1820)

Miyagawa Shunsui (active from 1740-1769) [Coming Soon]

Benizuri-E (1744-1760)

Ishikawa Toyonobu (active 1745-1785) [Coming Soon]

Tsukioka Settei (active 1753-1787) [Coming Soon]

Torii Kiyonaga (active 1756-1787) [Coming Soon]

Shunsho Katsukawa (active 1760-1793) [Coming Soon]

Utagawa Toyoharu (active 1763-1814) [Coming Soon]

Suzuki Harunobu (active 1764-1770) [Coming Soon]

- Nishiki-E (1765-1850)

Torii Kiyonaga (active 1765-1815) [Coming Soon]

Kitao Shigemasa (active 1765-1820) [Coming Soon]

Maruyama Okyo (active 1766-1795) [Coming Soon]

Kitagawa Utamaro (active 1770-1806) [Coming Soon]

Kubo Shunman (active 1774-1820) [Coming Soon]

Tsutaya Juzaburo (active 1774-1797) [Coming Soon]

Utagawa Kunimasa (active from 1780-1810) [Coming Soon]

Tanehiko Takitei (active 1783-1842) [Coming Soon]

Katsukawa Shuncho (active 1783-1795) [Coming Soon]

Choubunsai Eishi (active 1784-1829) [Coming Soon]

Eishosai Choki (active 1786-1808) [Coming Soon]

Rekisentei Eiri (active 1789-1801) [Coming Soon] [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ukiyo-e_paintings#/media/File:Rekisentei_Eiri_-_'800),_Beauty_in_a_White_Kimono',_c._1800.jpg]

Chokosai Eisho (active 1792-1799) [Coming Soon]

Kunimaru Utagawa (active 1794-1829) [Coming Soon]

Utagawa Toyokuni II (active 1794 - 1835) [Coming Soon]

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (active 1799-1823) [Coming Soon]

19th century

Teisai Hokuba (active 1800-1844) [Coming Soon]

Totoya Hokkei (active 1800-1850) [Coming Soon]

Utagawa Kunisada Toyokuni III (active 1800-1865) [Coming Soon]

Urakusai Nagahide (active from 1804) [Coming Soon]

Kitagawa Tsukimaro (active 1804 - 1836)

Kikukawa Eizan (active 1806-1867) [Coming Soon]

Keisai Eisen (active 1808-1848) [Coming Soon]

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (active 1810-1861) [Coming Soon]

Utagawa Hiroshige (active 1811-1858) [Coming Soon]

Yanagawa Shigenobu (active 1818-1832) [Coming Soon]

Utagawa Kunisada II (active 1844-1880) [Coming Soon]

Toyohara Kunichika (active 1847-1900) [Coming Soon]

Kano Hogai (active 1848-1888) [Coming Soon]

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (active 1850-1892) [Coming Soon]

Toyohara Chikanobu (active 1875-1912) [Coming Soon]

Kiyokata Kaburaki (active 1891-1972) [Coming Soon]

Goyo Hashiguchi (active 1899-1921) [Coming Soon]

20th century

Yumeji Takehisa (active 1905-1934) [Coming Soon]

Torii Kotondo (active 1915-1976) [Coming Soon]

Yamakawa Shūhō (active 1927-1944) [Coming Soon]

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