Li Cheng: Master of Northern Song Dynasty Landscape Painting
Li Cheng (919–967 AD), also known by his courtesy name Xianxi and pseudonym Yingqiu, was a distinguished landscape painter during the transition from the Five Dynasties to the early Song period. Recognized as one of the “Three Great Masters of the Northern Song,” his artistic style profoundly influenced the development of Chinese landscape painting and secured him a pivotal place in art history.
Life and Background
Li Cheng was originally from Chang’an (present-day Xi’an, Shaanxi) and descended from the Tang imperial family. During the turmoil of the Five Dynasties, his grandfather Li Ding relocated the family to Yingqiu (now Changle, Shandong). Well-educated and ambitious from a young age, Li Cheng faced repeated setbacks in his official career. He eventually turned to poetry, wine, and painting as outlets for his talents. He passed away in a guesthouse in Chenzhou (modern Huaiyang, Henan), leaving behind a rich artistic legacy.
Artistic Achievements
- Style and Features
Li Cheng excelled in landscape painting, learning from earlier masters Jing Hao and Guan Tong while developing his own distinctive approach. He favored broad, serene vistas of countryside scenes and was known for “using ink as sparingly as gold.” His works are characterized by a sense of spaciousness, misty woods, refined brushwork, and subtle ink techniques.
- Technical Innovations
Li Cheng created the “rolling cloud” texture stroke to depict mountains that resemble drifting clouds. He also developed the “crab claw” method to portray winter trees—using dry, dark ink to render branches that look like crab claws, conveying a sense of resilience and age.
- Legacy and Influence
Alongside Dong Yuan and Fan Kuan, Li Cheng is honored as one of the “Three Great Masters of the Northern Song.” During his time, he, Fan Kuan, and Guan Tong were regarded as the three pillars of landscape painting, with Li Cheng even being called “the greatest of all time.” His impact on Northern Song painting was immense, inspiring many followers such as Xu Daoning and Guo Xi.
Notable Works
- 《Reading the Stele amid Rocks and Trees》(Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts, Japan)
Ink on silk, 126.3 cm × 104.9 cm. Painted in collaboration with figure painter Wang Xiao, this work depicts aged trees and an ancient stele in a wintry plain. The scene feels remote and melancholic, with twisted branches set against an empty, misty background. The trees and rocks are outlined first, then lightly washed with ink, creating a delicate and atmospheric effect.
- 《Winter Forest and Level Distance》(National Palace Museum, Taipei)
Ink on silk. The painting features two tall pines among bare winter trees, with pine branches rendered in the “crab claw” style. Emperor Huizong of Song inscribed the title “Li Cheng’s Winter Forest and Level Distance” in the upper right corner. It captures a cold, open plain with winding streams and hazy skies, using minimal ink washes to express lyrical beauty.
- 《Temple amid Clearing Peaks》(Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, USA)
Light color on silk, 111.4 cm × 56 cm. This vertical composition portrays a winter valley with towering peaks, a cascading waterfall, and a temple complex amid pavilions, bridges, and traveling figures. The mountains are majestic yet elegant, blending Guan Tong’s vigor with Li Cheng’s clarity.
- 《Dense Woods and Distant Peaks》(Liaoning Provincial Museum, China)
Ink on silk. Depicting a summer landscape in northern China, the painting shows layered peaks enveloped in lush forests. In the foreground, boats dock along verdant banks, while bridges, inns, travelers, and chariots animate the scene. Waterfalls and streams flow through the middle ground, shrouded in mist, with palaces nestled among the hills.
- 《Tall Pines and Level Vista》(Seikadō Bunko Art Museum, Japan)
Ink landscape on silk. Painted during a cold winter day, the foreground shows two pine trees—one dark, one light—standing on cloud-like rocks. The pines are accompanied by shrubs and thorns, their needles sharply detailed. The background extends into a misty, serene distance with meandering streams and soft hills.
- 《Small Winter Forest》(Liaoning Provincial Museum, China)
Light color on horizontal silk scroll. This work presents rolling hills veiled in mist in the distance, with several straight-trunked, elegantly curved pine trees in the foreground. The forest is enveloped in haze, and the slopes are dotted with thriving bushes. An inscription on the front reads “Li Cheng’s Small Winter Forest.”
Bring Li Cheng’s Vision into Your Space
Inspired by Li Cheng’s timeless aesthetic, our curated collection offers high-quality art reproductions, scrolls, prints, and decorative items that carry the spirit of his “sparse and vast” landscapes. Perfect for home, office, or as a thoughtful gift, each piece is crafted to evoke the peace and sophistication of classical Chinese art.
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Chinese Ink Landscape Paintings