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The origins of traditional Chinese painting reach far back into China's distant history. Generally speaking, works dating from before the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) are mainly line drawings of people engaged in various activities. This was the "golden age" of human figure drawing.? By the mid Tang Dynasty, landscape and flower-and-bird paintings began their rise to prominence.? Paintings of mountains, forests, fields and gardens have the ability to transport one away from the vexations of the material world into a peaceful, carefree realm.? Because of this, landscape paintings have always been highly regarded by China's literati and officialdom.? The flowers, grass, trees, stones, birds and other animals depicted in the lively and energetic flower-and-bird paintings are also widely admired.? Thus, the landscape and flower-and-bird types of painting, together with the earlier human figure painting, comprise the three main categories of traditional Chinese painting.
The ruling and elite classes of the Tang and Song (960-1279 AD) Dynasties were major supporters of Chinese painting. The creative aim behind artistic works produced in this period was more serious and had political and educational significance. In style, the works tended to be elaborate and ornate. The Song Dynasty court established a fairly well systematized academy of painting. Song Emperor Hui Zong, a lover of fine art and painting and an accomplished artist in his own right, granted special patronage to the painters in this academy and sponsored the training of promising painters. The academy of painting reached the zenith of its activity in this period.
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