Nature serves as our greatest artistic muse. It stirs feelings and emotions in us and was a source of inspiration for ancient Chinese artists. Four plants, in particular, the plum blossom, the orchid, the bamboo, and the chrysanthemum, were known as the Four Gentlemen, or “Junzi” in ancient China.
“Ink Plum” by Wang Mian. Handscroll: Ink on paper; 12.6 inches by 20 inches. (The Palace Museum, Beijing)
Ancient Chinese artists depicted this flora to evoke intellectual thought and spirituality rather than simply portraying the beauty of the natural world. Each of these plants personified the ideal qualities of a gentleman in ancient China. The artists combined their painting with calligraphy and poetry, known together as the “Three Perfections.”…