A Comparative Study Of Ni Kuang's "Yi Yi Yi Qi" And Huang Xiufu "Yi Ge"

Ni Zan,one of the four painting masters of Yuan Dynasty,who had underwent and witnessed the revolution and turmoil at the end of Yuan,proposed a theory about "grace"-"Yi"in Chinese--in painting.For sake of the spiritual connotation of grace or "Yi" in the works of Ni Zan,"grace grade"--a state of privacy and reclusion--("Yige" in Chinese)from Huang Xiufu,a famous painter in North Song Dynasty in China,was selected as the counterpart to discuss the source of "carefree elegance" of Ni Zan's paintings.With detailed survey about the formation of graceful grade of Ni Zan,its carrier,process,route and style are discussed.Additionally,in the survey,language format and writing psychology of Ni Zan are also taken into consideration.In the paper,Huang Xiufu's theory-"Grace grade" or "Yige" is comprehensively and deeply explained,from Huang Xiufu's birth,life experience to the definition and criteria of"Grace grade".Besides,fundamental elements to build up "Grace grade" after Song dynasty and the death of Huang Xiufu are also furtherly illustrated.Meanwhile,by understanding the historical background of Yuan Dynasty,Ni Zan's home environment and his life sufferings and experiences,it provides us with a way to deeply interpret his artistic proposition—"carefree elegance".Combined with the discussion of Grace grade in Huang Xiufu,the source and concrete details of "carefree elegance" of Ni Zan,including how Ni Zan being affected by Huang XiuFu,along with similarities between Ni Zan's and Huang Xiufu's are debated.Aside from these,this paper briefly analyzes the impact of Ni Zan's "carefree elegance" on the later generations and painters,especially on four outstanding ones in Ming Dynasty and Four painter with the same surname "Wang" in Qing dynasty,and the realistic meaning of development of Chinese Landscape Paintings of Literati.Deduction and conclusion from theoretical perspective are devoted to guide the practice of imitation and facsimile.In particular,interpretation of Ni Zan's theory--"carefree elegance" and its spiritual connotations paves a solid foundation for the further study of Ni Zan and provides with more information and references.Actually,It is not only the theoretical conclusion of Ni Zan's and Huang Xiufu's from study "carefree elegance "of Ni Zan and "Grace grade”or ''Yige" of Huang Xiufu,but the spiritual pursuits of us.