Mogu
Encyclopedia
Mogu is a painting
skill or technique in traditional Chinese painting
. It literally means "boneless".
According to some ancient records, the technique was first created and theorized by Zhang Senyun (Traditional Chinese: 張僧繇; simplified Chinese: 张僧繇; Pinyin: Zhāng Sēng-Yáo) of the Liang Dynasty
in 557 during the Southern dynasties
period.
During the period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
, a painter named Huang Quan (黄筌; Huáng Quán) from Former Shu
significantly developed the techniques in bird-and-flower painting
, especially in painting trees and flowers, and his painting was called as the fine-sounding name Mogu Huazhi (Traditional and Simplified Chinese: 沒骨花枝; Pinyin: Mògǔ Huāzhī).
In Tang Dynasty
, notable painters mastered this technique includes Yang Sheng (Traditional Chinese: 楊升; Simplified Chinese: 杨升; Pinyin: Yáng Shēng)
Xu Chongsi (徐崇嗣) during the Northern Song Dynasty continued developing the technique from Huang, and his paintings were named Mogu-Tu (Traditional Chinese: 沒骨圖; Simplified Chinese 没骨图; Pinyin: Mògǔ-Tú). Xu started applying this technique in shan shui
painting.
The technique gained popularity during the Late-Ming Dynasty
and Qing Dynasty
, and the most famous master would be Yun Shouping
.
pens. Less or absolutely no sketch
or drawing
, so people can hardly observe solid lines or curves in the painting.
There are basically three Mogu staining methods: the staining by smearing (渲染; Xuàn-Rǎn), the staining by dotting (点染; Diǎn-Rǎn), and the staining by just filling colours (填染; Tián-Rǎn).
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
skill or technique in traditional Chinese painting
Chinese painting
Chinese painting is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world. The earliest paintings were not representational but ornamental; they consisted of patterns or designs rather than pictures. Early pottery was painted with spirals, zigzags, dots, or animals...
. It literally means "boneless".
Derivation of the name
There are mainly two derivatives:- Mogu-Hua (Tradirtion Chinese: 沒骨畫, or 沒骨畵; Simplified Chinese: 没骨画; Pinyin: Mògǔ Huà; "Huà" means "painting"), mainly mentions the painting or work has such style or created by such technique.
- Mogu-Fa (Tradirtion Chinese: 沒骨法; Simplified Chinese: 没骨法; Pinyin: Mògǔ Fǎ; "Fǎ" means method or technique) emphasizes the technique.
History
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
in 557 during the Southern dynasties
Southern dynasties
The Southern dynasties comprise the Liu Song, Southern Qi, Liang Dynasty and Chen Dynasty, whose capital were at Jiankang , and Emperor Yuan of Liang, as well as the later Western Liang emperors , also set their...
period.
During the period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms was between 907–960/979 AD and an era of political upheaval in China, between the fall of the Tang Dynasty and the founding of the Song Dynasty. During this period, five dynasties quickly succeeded one another in the north, and more than 12 independent states were...
, a painter named Huang Quan (黄筌; Huáng Quán) from Former Shu
Former Shu
Great Shu called in retrospect Former Shu was one of the Ten Kingdoms formed during the chaotic period between the rules of the Tang dynasty and the Song dynasty...
significantly developed the techniques in bird-and-flower painting
Bird-and-flower painting
Bird-and-flower painting is a kind of Chinese painting named after its subject matter. Normally, most bird-and-flower paintings belong to the scholar-artist style of Chinese painting....
, especially in painting trees and flowers, and his painting was called as the fine-sounding name Mogu Huazhi (Traditional and Simplified Chinese: 沒骨花枝; Pinyin: Mògǔ Huāzhī).
In Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, notable painters mastered this technique includes Yang Sheng (Traditional Chinese: 楊升; Simplified Chinese: 杨升; Pinyin: Yáng Shēng)
Xu Chongsi (徐崇嗣) during the Northern Song Dynasty continued developing the technique from Huang, and his paintings were named Mogu-Tu (Traditional Chinese: 沒骨圖; Simplified Chinese 没骨图; Pinyin: Mògǔ-Tú). Xu started applying this technique in shan shui
Shan shui
Shan shui refers to a style of Chinese painting that involves or depicts scenery or natural landscapes, using a brush and ink rather than more conventional paints. Mountains, rivers and often waterfalls are prominent in this art form.-History:...
painting.
The technique gained popularity during the Late-Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
and Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, and the most famous master would be Yun Shouping
Yun Shouping
Yun Shouping , also known as Nantian , was a major artist of the early Chinese Qing dynasty. He was regarded as one of the "Six Masters" of the Qing period, together with the Four Wangs and Wú Lì.-Biography:...
.
The technique
The method mainly is a staining and dying one, by using ink brushInk brush
Ink brushes are used in Chinese calligraphy. They are also used in Chinese painting and descendant brush painting styles. The ink brush was invented in China, believed to be around 300BCE...
pens. Less or absolutely no sketch
Sketch (drawing)
A sketch is a rapidly executed freehand drawing that is not usually intended as a finished work...
or drawing
Drawing
Drawing is a form of visual art that makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. Common instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, markers, styluses, and various metals .An artist who...
, so people can hardly observe solid lines or curves in the painting.
There are basically three Mogu staining methods: the staining by smearing (渲染; Xuàn-Rǎn), the staining by dotting (点染; Diǎn-Rǎn), and the staining by just filling colours (填染; Tián-Rǎn).
See also
- Yun ShoupingYun ShoupingYun Shouping , also known as Nantian , was a major artist of the early Chinese Qing dynasty. He was regarded as one of the "Six Masters" of the Qing period, together with the Four Wangs and Wú Lì.-Biography:...
: widely regarded as the top Mogu painter. - Mogu painting is mainly applied in:
- Shan shuiShan shuiShan shui refers to a style of Chinese painting that involves or depicts scenery or natural landscapes, using a brush and ink rather than more conventional paints. Mountains, rivers and often waterfalls are prominent in this art form.-History:...
painting - Bird-and-flower paintingBird-and-flower paintingBird-and-flower painting is a kind of Chinese painting named after its subject matter. Normally, most bird-and-flower paintings belong to the scholar-artist style of Chinese painting....
- Shan shui