The Influence Of The Chinese Literator: Poet On A Mountaintop

During the times of the Mongol invasion in China in 1210, there was a group of Chinese scholars that refused the influence of the Mongol Emperor. This group was known as the Literati. This group of Chinese scholars chose the life quiet harmony. The Literati were well renowned for their differential style in their artwork. The Literati believed in being expressive with what they create. They very much valued their pieces having deep meaning. Even the way their brush strokes conveying moods towards the viewer. This kind of style is very much evident in their paintings that they created. For example, in Figure 1, the piece “Poet on a Mountaintop” depicts a man standing on a mountaintop looking over to the horizon. The painting is pretty basic and simple compared to the counterparts of the painting from the royal courts. But the way that the painting was created give a feeling serenity with its brush strokes. The man is tiny compared to its environment. And when we look to what the man see in the horizon, we see the poem written in the sky. This really makes us see with our own eyes on what the man is probably thinking, standing on the mountaintop. …show more content…
Take for instance, Figure 2. This hanging scroll depicts a capture of a famed General in the third century. We can see how the focus is mainly put forth on all the characters rather than the environment itself. The environment is bland and bleak in comparison to the characters that are fully colored and detailed for their bodily features. It is very technical vs. the basic style of the Literati. This painting served as a sense of pride and nationalism towards the Emperor of the