Bamboo Paintings of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties

Abstract

Discovering bamboo was a breakthrough for painting in Yuan, Ming and Qing periods and making it a separate subject marked the beginning of literati painting. Painting, like calligraphy and poetry, were cultivated by the educated wenren people, especially for the educated, and in some cases for the artist’s entertainment. In ideal conditions, wenren did not sell their works. The painting of bamboo has received so much attention in China and so many artists of the highest competence have devoted their lives to the subject.