Abstract:

 The Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasty marks the beginning of modern China, during which landscape painting developed into two schools represented by “Four Kings” and “Four Monks” respectively. The former set ancients for examples, emphasizing “copying, reproduction and imitation”, advocating “following rules” and restoring ancient ways. What is their motivation? On the contrary, “Four Monks” abandoned rules and advocated “learning from the nature”. Did they really negate tradition and paint nature mechanically? The paper explores the causes of their differences in terms of styles and schools, social mores and living environment of the artists as well as the value orientation behind the later generations’ choice.

Key words: landscape painting in Ming and Qing Dynasties, painting styles,  the history of Chinese painting