Sage in Chinese Painting
By Wu Daozi
In Chinese history, three people are adored as sages. They are thecalligraphysage Wang Xizhi of the West Jin Dynasty (265-316), the poem sage Du Fu of theTang Dynastyand the painting sage Wu Daozi, also of the Tang Dynasty.
Born in Yangzhai (present-day Yu County in Henan Province), Wu lost both his parents when he was young and lived a hard life in his early years. He learned from folk artists and sculptors how to make a living. Because he studied hard and was talented in art, he earned himself a good reputation as a painter by the time he was 20 years old. Emperor Xuanzong invited him to become an imperial painter in court and changed his name to Daoxuan. As an imperial painter, he was not allowed to paint except on the emperor's orders. It was a big restriction for a civilian painter, but on the other hand, life in court provided the best conditions for living and artistic creativity.
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