Mi Fu's Study Of The Concept Of Painting And Calligraphy

This thesis serves as a research primarily based on commentary remarks and appreciations on artworks related in Mi Fu’s “Shu Shi”(literally as History of Calligraphy),“Hua Shi”(literally as History of Chinese Paintings)and other books,under the historical background of Northern Song Dynasty when collections of and appreciations on artworks prevailed.The first part of the thesis explains the core concept “comments and appreciations”,and summarizes the influences by past artworks on perceptions in appreciation and judgment during Northern Song Dynasty.It then observes the interactions between Mi Fu and contemporary collectors such as Ouyang Xiu,Su Shi and others so as to discover both the differences and similarities in perceptions of appreciating artworks,and further confirm the effects on Mi Fu’s judgment.The second part will lead a close analysis into Mi Fu’s profound commentary works like “Shu Shi”(as History of Calligraphy),“Hua Shi”as(History of Chinese Paintings),“Bao Zhang Dai Fang Lu”(as Collections of Exquisite Artworks to be Discovered),“Bao Jin Ying Guang Ji”(as Mi’s Collections in Bao Jin Study),“Hai Yue Ming Yan”(as Mi’s Remarks on Artworks)and “Hai Yue Ti Ba”(as Mi’s Comments behind Artworks).The aesthetic orientation of Mi will be concluded here as pursuit of simplicity,personal will naturalism,elegance and “Jin” style.The third part will take a further analysis in “Jin Ren Ge”(characteristics of people in Jin Dynasty)proposed within Mi’s aesthetic ideals and investigate the origin of pursuit of “Jin Ren Ge”,its development and the overall effects on his arts career.Hence,Mi’s“characteristics” being centered in his artistic perception for artworks appreciation and judgment should be eventually concluded.