Gong-bi (工筆) and Xie-yi (写意)

Chinese paintings are often divided roughly into two styles - Gong-bi (工笔) or Meticulous Style and Xie-yi (写意) or Freehand Style. The English words "Meticulous" and "Freehand" translate only a part of the original meanings in Chinese of Gong-bi (工笔) Style and Xie-yi (写意) Style (historically very old like other cultural things as always). More appropriate words shall replace these English words in future when Chinese paintings become more popular worldwide.

I find more quietness or stillness in Gong-bi (工笔) paintings while I find more movement or activeness in Xie-yi (写意) paintings. I need to become a bit active to see Gong-bi (工笔) paintings to appreciate quietness or stillness while I can appreciate movement or activeness even when if I am passive when I see Xie-yi (写意) paintings.

Still Life painting (nature morte in French is more like dead life in English) is one style in Western paintings. Most people, either Western or Oriental, find stillness or quietness in Still Life paintings. This is partly because the objects depicted are usually dead living things or non-living things which do not move by themselves. And usually there is no painter's intention involved to make a still life painting active. Furthermore paintings are 2D expression, in which time and movement are excluded.


AAG