Zhu Ruoji

Place: Quanzhou County

Born: 1642

Death: 1707

Biography:

Zhu Ruoji, also known as Shitao, was a Chinese Buddhist monk, calligrapher, and landscape painter who lived during the early Qing dynasty. Born in 1642 in Quanzhou County, Guangxi province, Zhu Ruoji was a member of the royal house descended from the elder brother of Zhu Yuanzhang. He narrowly avoided catastrophe in 1644 when the Ming dynasty fell to invading Manchus and civil rebellion.

Early Life and Career

Having escaped by chance from the fate to which his lineage would have assigned him, Zhu Ruoji assumed the name Yuanji Shitao no later than 1651 when he became a Buddhist monk. He moved from Wuchang, where he began his religious instruction, to Anhui in the 1660s. Throughout the 1680s, he lived in Nanjing and Yangzhou, and in 1690, he moved to Beijing to find patronage for his promotion within the monastic system.

Artistic Style and Innovations

Zhu Ruoji's art was revolutionary in its transgressions of the rigidly codified techniques and styles that dictated aesthetics at the time. His formal innovations in depiction include drawing attention to the act of painting itself through his use of washes and bold, impressionistic brushstrokes, as well as an interest in subjective perspective and the use of negative or white space to suggest distance. As a prominent artist, Zhu Ruoji's works can be found in various museums, including the University of Michigan Museum of Art, which houses his painting Poem Concerning a Wanli Era Imperial Brush. Ink wash painting was a type of Chinese ink brush painting that emerged during the Tang dynasty of China (618–907). It is typically monochrome, using only shades of black, with a great emphasis on virtuoso brushwork and conveying the perceived "spirit" or "essence" of a subject over direct imitation. Zhu Ruoji's use of ink wash painting can be seen in his works, such as Landscape Painted on the Double Ninth Festival, which is a masterpiece of Chinese art.

Notable Works and Legacy

Some of Zhu Ruoji's notable works include Outing to Zhang Gong's Grotto and Fruits and Flowers Leaf 1. His paintings often featured landscapes, figures, and poetry, and were known for their delicate brushwork and subtle color schemes. As a Buddhist convert, Zhu Ruoji was also known with the monastic name Yuan Ji, which he used for his home in Yangzhou.

• Zhu Ruoji's paintings can be found on https://Wikioo.org/@/Zhu-Ruoji, where his artworks are available for purchase as museum art reproductions.
• More information about Ink wash painting can be found on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ink_wash_painting.
• Zhu Ruoji's biography and artworks are also available on https://Wikioo.org, where his paintings are showcased alongside other famous artists.

Zhu Ruoji's legacy as a Chinese painter is unparalleled, and his use of ink wash painting has inspired many modern artists. His works continue to be admired and studied by art enthusiasts around the world, and his contributions to Chinese art are immeasurable. For more information about Zhu Ruoji and his artworks, visit https://Wikioo.org or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shitao.