Wu Daozi

Lore & Background

Wu Daozi's father died when he was at an early age, and he subsequently lived in poverty. He learned calligraphy from Zhang Xu and He Zhizhang, before specialising in painting. He pioneered realistic techniques, the formal establishment of brushwork, and landscape painting. He painted figures with round strokes so as to show their flowing clothes. He traveled widely and created murals in Buddhist and Daoist temples. Wu also drew mountains, rivers, flowers, birds. No authentic originals are extant, though some exist in later copies or stone carvings. Wu's famous painting of Confucius was preserved through being copied in a stone engraving. Numerous legends gathered around Wu Daozi, often concerning commissions by Emperor Xuanzong. In one, Emperor Xuanzong called him to paint a wall of his palace. He painted a wall mural displaying a rich nature-scene set in a valley, containing a stunning array of flora and fauna and including a cave at the foot of a mountain. The story goes that he informed the emperor that it's not just what the emperor is able to see, Wu Daozi has made this painting in such a way, that a spirit dwells in the cave. Next, he clapped his hands and entered the cave, inviting the emperor to follow. The painter entered the cave but the entrance closed behind him and, before the astonished emperor could move or utter a word, the painting vanished from the wall. This story depicts the spirituality of art. The contemporary Swedish writer Sven Lindqvist meditates on this legend and the challenge that it poses to modern aesthetics in his book, The Myth of Wu Tao-Tzu. Another legend states that Emperor Xuanzong sent Wu Daozi to Sichuan to study the green waters of the Jialing River in order to complete a mural of its entire course. Supposedly, Wu returned without sketches and rapidly painted the entire river from memory, completing the 300-li account within a single day. It is sometimes added that his technique was foiled by Li Sixun, who accompanied him and followed the traditional practice of working slowly from numerous prepared sketches. To the extent that it is grounded in a real event, however, it probably only reflects Wu's speed of execution and not a lack of reliance on sketches. Another has it that a painter found one of the last surviving murals of Wu Daozi and learned to imitate the style. He then destroyed the wall, possibly by pushing it into a river, to ensure that no one else could learn the same secrets.

Reader's Guide

Wu Daozi is significant as a Tang dynasty painter whose work is considered the peak of court painting in China, despite none of his original works surviving. His legacy rests on later copies and stone carvings, such as his painting of Confucius. He pioneered realistic techniques, formal brushwork, and landscape painting, influencing generations. The legends surrounding him, particularly those involving Emperor Xuanzong, highlight the spiritual and mythical dimensions of his art. The story of his vanishing mural, meditated upon by Swedish writer Sven Lindqvist in *The Myth of Wu Tao-Tzu*, challenges modern aesthetics. His speed of execution is noted in the Jialing River legend, though it likely reflects his skill rather than a lack of sketches. The Presentation of Buddha was featured in 2004-5 television presentations in China, indicating ongoing cultural resonance.

Did You Know?

• Wu Daozi learned calligraphy from Zhang Xu and He Zhizhang before specializing in painting.
• His famous painting of Confucius was preserved through being copied in a stone engraving.
• One legend says he painted a mural with a cave, clapped his hands, entered it, and the painting vanished before Emperor Xuanzong.
• Another legend claims he painted the entire 300-li course of the Jialing River from memory in a single day.
• The Presentation of Buddha was featured in 2004-5 television presentations in China.