The Influence of Song Dynasty Literati on Chinese Painting

Abstract

During the Song Dynasty, the literati not only played a significant role politically but also wielded dual functions of inheritance and innovation in the cultural and artistic domains. This paper examines how, through their unique epochal context, cultural vision, and aesthetic preferences, the literati managed to effect a profound transformation in the value orientation of Chinese painting. It analyzes the new trends in the development of Chinese painting art during the Northern Song period through the change of patrons, the evolution of theme selection, and innovations in artistic expression. The pursuit of the "non-utilitarian" in painting by Song Dynasty literati not only enriched the connotations of Chinese painting, marking a transformation in spiritual pursuits but also laid a solid theoretical and practical foundation for the literati painting of later generations.