23. The "Eight Eccentrics" of Yangzhou

Qing dynasty 1644-1911

Yangzhou 扬州 : trade center on the Grand Canal in southern China, flourished during the eighteenth-century (mid-Qing dynasty)

Concept: commodity

Terms

baguai: “Eight Eccentrics,” ba 八 meaning eight and guai 怪 meaning strange or wierd

For your information, here is the list of all of the artists who were considered part of the “Eight Eccentrics” at one time.   You need not memorize the list of names.

1.       Wang Shishen 王士慎 (1686-1759)

2.       Hua Yan 華嵒 (1682-1765)

3.       Huang Shen 黃慎 (1687-1768)

4.       Li Shan 李鱔 (1686-ca. 1756)

5.       Jin Nong 金農 (1687-after 1764)

6.       Luo Ping 羅聘 (1733-1799)

7.       Gao Xiang 高翔 (1688-1753)

8.       Zheng Xie 鄭燮 (1693-1765)

9.       Li Fangying 李方膺 (1695-1755)

10.     Min Zhen 閔貞 (1730-ca. 1788

Objects

Fang Shishu 方士庶 and Ye Fanglin 葉芳林  The Literary Gathering at a Yangzhou Garden. 1743.   Handscroll, ink, light color, silk; 12 1/2” x 6'6” (fig. 9-29)

Compare with Xie Huan's Gathering in the Apricot Garden (fig. 8-5)

Zheng Xie (1693-1765).   Ink Bamboo and Rocks. 1753.   Four-fold screen, ink on paper; 47” x 7'7” (fig. 9-30)

Jin Nong (1687-after 1764).  Ink Play:   An Album of Figures, Plants, and Animals. 1754. Album, ink, color, paper; 19.2 x 12.2 cm.

Jin Nong (1687-after 1764). The Lone Horse. 1761. Hanging scroll, ink, color on paper.

Compare with Guiseppe Castiglione's (1688-1766) Album of Horse Paintings and Qianlong Emperor Receiving Tribute Horses from the Kazaks. 1757. Handscroll, ink, color, paper; 17 3/4 “ x 8' 7 1/2” (fig. 9-33)

Luo Ping (1733-1799). Ghost Amusement.   1797. Handscroll, ink, color, paper; 10 1/2” x 8'4” (fig. 9-31)

Compare with European etchings of skeletons

Luo Ping (1733-1799).  Radiant Moon. 1761. Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper, 116 x 54 cm.  

Compare with celestial sphere (figure 9-41; gold leaf, pearls, cloisonne, height: 32”).

Luo Ping (1733-1799).   Zhongkui Supported by Ghosts. Hanging scroll, ink, color, paper.

Compare with another painting by Luo Ping entitled Zhongkui drunk. Hanging scroll, ink, color, paper.

Huang Shen (1687-1768).  Album of Figure Paintings. Album, ink, color, paper; 28.0 x 32.5 cm., leaf。

Hua Yan (1682-1765).  Bird and Flower Paintings. 1747. Album, ink, color, paper.