Gu Kaizhi (346-407) was a famous
Chinese painter of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-320). His representative work,
Luoshen Appraisal Painting, is now kept at the Palace Museum in Beijing.
The theme of the Luoshen Appraisal
Painting was drawn from the article Luoshen Appraisal, written by the
famous writer of the Three Kingdoms (220-280) Cao Zhi, who was forced to part
with his lover. The appraisal depicts Cao's encounter with the beautiful Goddess
Luoshen at Luoshui River. Cao expressed his nostalgia in the
romantic story, and his feelings and the elegant image of Luoshen reappeared in
the painting. The Luoshen Appraisal Painting seamlessly combines poetry
and painting, demonstrating the high artistic level of the time. With 61 figures
in all, the painting was divided into several sections. Gu emphasized the
subjects' expressions; the stones, mountains and trees were added for ornamental
purposes. Gu used the typical silk-thread line to draw the frames of the
figures, which had a bright hue.
Several sections in the work depict
the meeting between Cao and Goddess Luoshen at Luoshui River. The picture vividly captures the
jovial mood of their first encounter, and the sadness that ensued following
their separation. With an original concept and heart-stirring scenes, the
painting is considered a classic in Chinese painting
history.