The Poetry Of Chinese Traditional Painting

Zhang Shunmin, a poet in Song dynasty, once said 'a poem is just like a sound painting, and a painting is a poem with regular forms.' Since ancient time, it has been said that poetry and painting share the same origin, which is embodied in 'there is painting in poetry just as there is poetry in painting'. Those good at composing poems are at the same time capable of appreciating paintings; those painters are often poets as well. To put it in another way, painting and poetry are mingled together. From poetry we can feel the poet's emotion, and from the scenery we learn the hidden idea in pieces of works. The two, in essence, are the same, as both of them are the depiction of people's aspiration. Painting is a form of visible art, in which vivid and dynamic depiction show great appeal to the people; while only through our senses we perceive the emotion conveyed in the poetry can we really appreciate its cream. However, poetry and paintings are frequently combined together, because both are the expression of images, and further more, the pursuit of images. The emotions expressed in poetry and hidden ideas in painting are all based upon the acquisition of special images. It is the principle of aesthetics in poetry, as well as the aesthetic perspective in painting that imagery should be pursued. The diction in poetry and skills in painting both rely on a sudden enlightenment, as well as a profound self-cultivation.In the field of art and literature of China, the combination of poetry and painting in traditional Chinese painting plays a significant role. The unique charm of this combination lies not only in its compliance with our visual value of aesthetics, but also in its satisfaction with people's psychological value of aesthetics. There are various forms of this combination, among which the most common is the description and expression and of poem inscriptions together with the lyric meaning out of the painting. The core element of the poetry and painting combination rests with the harmonious coexistence of image, taste and temperament. Therefore, only by overcoming the bondage of the common image and superficial understanding can artists achieve the state of being spiritually independent, without any disturbance of others, thus to make themselves more close to nature, free from all kinds of vulgarities.The combination of poetry and paintings in the field of Chinese art, essentially speaking, is because of the final objective of Chinese art, that is, emotion expression, pressure releasing and meaning manifestation. In this regard, as far as a great master in traditional Chinese painting is concerned, this kind of combination can help communicate with others voicelessly, also mingle the master himself with nature to live a carefree life.