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Over a thousand years of using Chinese classical script is irrelevant? This is an article about culture, and not geography. Vietnam is culturally East Asian. Vietnamese (along with Korean and Japanese) are still used today to determine the pronunciation of middle Chinese.
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{{Short description|Four plants in East Asian art}}
{{Infobox Chinese
{{Infobox Chinese
|pic=
|pic=
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|wuu=sy<sup>去</sup> ciuin<sup>平</sup> tsy<sup>上</sup>
|wuu=sy<sup>去</sup> ciuin<sup>平</sup> tsy<sup>上</sup>
|j=sei<sup>3</sup> gwan<sup>1</sup> zi<sup>2</sup>
|j=sei<sup>3</sup> gwan<sup>1</sup> zi<sup>2</sup>
|poj=sì-kun-tsú
|poj=sì-kun-chú
|tl=sì-kun-tsú
|h=xi<sup>55</sup> giun<sup>24</sup> zii<sup>31</sup>
|h=xi<sup>55</sup> giun<sup>24</sup> zii<sup>31</sup>
|kanji=四君子
|hiragana=しくんし
|revhep=Shikunshi
|hangul=사군자
|hanja=四君子
|rr=Sagunja
|mr=
|qn=Tứ Quân Tử
|chuhan={{linktext|四|君|子}}
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In [[Chinese art]], the '''Four Gentlemen''', also called the '''Four Noble Ones''', are four plants: the [[Prunus mume|plum blossom]], the [[orchid]], the [[bamboo]], and the [[chrysanthemum]].<ref>[http://www.gardens.si.edu/come-learn/docs/Template_Orchids_The%20Four%20Gentlemen.pdf Orchids: The Four Gentlemen]</ref><ref>[http://www.brushmeistersofbrooklyn.net/articles/symbolisminbrushpainti.html Symbolism in Brush Painting]</ref> The term compares the four plants to [[Confucianist]] ''[[junzi]]'', or "gentlemen". They are most typically depicted in traditional [[ink and wash painting]] and they belong to the category of [[bird-and-flower painting]] in Chinese art.
In [[Chinese art]], the '''Four Gentlemen''' or '''Four Noble Ones''' ({{zh|c=四君子|p=Sì Jūnzǐ}}), is a collective term referring to four plants: the [[Prunus mume|plum blossom]], the [[orchid]], the [[bamboo]], and the [[chrysanthemum]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gardens.si.edu/come-learn/docs/Template_Orchids_The%20Four%20Gentlemen.pdf |title=Orchids: The Four Gentlemen |access-date=2012-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020734/http://www.gardens.si.edu/come-learn/docs/Template_Orchids_The%20Four%20Gentlemen.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.brushmeistersofbrooklyn.net/articles/symbolisminbrushpainti.html Symbolism in Brush Painting]</ref> The term compares the four plants to [[Confucianism|Confucian]] ''[[junzi]]'', or "gentlemen". They are commonly depicted in [[bird-and-flower painting|bird-and-flower paintings]], a broad category of classical Chinese art, and they are particularly popular subjects for [[ink wash painting]].


The Four Gentlemen have been used in Chinese painting since the time of the [[Song dynasty]] (960–1279) because of their refined beauty, and were later adopted [[East Asian cultural sphere|elsewhere in East Asia]] by artists in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. As they represent the four different seasons (the plum blossom for winter, the orchid for spring, the bamboo for summer, and the chrysanthemum for autumn), the four are used to depict the unfolding of the seasons through the year.
The Four Gentlemen are a recurring theme in art because of their long history as symbols of [[Four Cardinal Principles and Eight Virtues|traditional Chinese virtues]], such as uprightness, purity, humility, and perseverance despite harsh conditions. Each of them represent a different season (the plum blossom for winter, the orchid for spring, the bamboo for summer, and the chrysanthemum for autumn), the four are used to depict the unfolding of the seasons through the year.

Together, the Four Gentlemen have been used in Chinese painting since the time of the [[Song dynasty]] (960–1279) since the publication of ''Mixtures Pharmacopeia'' aka [[Heji Jufang]] and were later adopted [[East Asian cultural sphere|elsewhere in East Asia]] by artists in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. However, their individual meanings have been traced to far earlier times. For example, the first recorded description of bamboo as being a "gentleman" has been credited to the [[Duke Wu of Qin]] (697 to 678 BC) from the [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou Dynasty]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The Four Gentlemen in Poetry 나은크라프트 : 네이버 블로그 |url=https://blog.naver.com/naun7757/220319545645 |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=blog.naver.com}}</ref>

== Korean adaptation of the Four Gentlemen ==
The Four Gentlemen (Sagunja 사군자), also translated as the Four Gracious Plants, were depicted in [[celadon]] pottery from the [[Goryeo|Goryeo period (918-1392)]]. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Baek |first=In-san |title=우리역사넷 Chapter 4 The ideals of the noble class reflected in the flowers, birds, and four gentlemen |url=http://contents.history.go.kr/front/km/print.do?levelId=km_019_0060_0030_0010&whereStr= |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=contents.history.go.kr}}</ref> As tastes changed within the [[Joseon|Joseon period (1392-1897)]] and blue and white porcelains dominated the royal households, the level of the artistry of depictions in ceramics approached the level of refinement found in [[Ink wash painting|ink-wash paintings]].

The Four Gentlemen were also frequently used in patterns on mother-of-pearl lacquerware, iron bowls, calligraphy boards, pencil cases, and stone crafts such as inkstones and braziers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=POSCO Art Museum |title=The Four Gentlemen in Life [포스코미술관 특별 기고] 7편. 생활 속의 사군자화 |url=https://newsroom.posco.com/kr/%ed%8f%ac%ec%8a%a4%ec%bd%94%eb%af%b8%ec%88%a0%ea%b4%80-%ed%8a%b9%eb%b3%84-%ea%b8%b0%ea%b3%a0-7%ed%8e%b8-%ec%83%9d%ed%99%9c-%ec%86%8d%ec%9d%98-%ec%82%ac%ea%b5%b0%ec%9e%90%ed%99%94/ |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=newsroom.posco.com |language=ko}}</ref> Within Korean folk painting (Baekdongjado (百童子圖):

* plum blossoms have come to symbolize fertility, this is perhaps due to an ancient Chinese custom of throwing plums to seek love;
* an orchid has come to symbolize nobility, loyalty and fidelity;
* chrysanthemums, especially an elixir made from yellow chrysanthemums, is believed to lead to longevity; and
* bamboo is likened to a gentlemen's dignity and service to others.<ref name=":0" />


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
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File:Ke Jiusi Bamboo.jpg|''Bamboo at Qingbige Pavilion'' by [[Ke Jiusi]], c. 1338
File:Ke Jiusi Bamboo.jpg|''Bamboo at Qingbige Pavilion'' by [[Ke Jiusi]], c. 1338
File:Xian'e Changchun Album 08.jpg|''Chrysanthemums'' from the Xian'e Changchun Album by [[Giuseppe Castiglione (Jesuit painter)|Giuseppe Castiglione]] (1688–1766)
File:Xian'e Changchun Album 08.jpg|''Chrysanthemums'' from the Xian'e Changchun Album by [[Giuseppe Castiglione (Jesuit painter)|Giuseppe Castiglione]] (1688–1766)
File:Sun Long and Chen Lu-Plum Blossoms 1.jpg|''Plum Blossoms'' by [[Sun Long]] and [[Chen Lu (painter)|Chen Lu]], early [[Ming dynasty]] (1368–1644)
File:Sun Long and Chen Lu-Plum Blossoms 1.jpg|''Plum Blossoms'' by [[Sun Long (painter)|Sun Long]] and [[Chen Lu (painter)|Chen Lu]], early [[Ming dynasty]] (1368–1644)
File:Korea, Joseon dynasty - Wine Flask with Plum and Bamboo Design second side - Cleveland Museum of Art.tif|Korean [[Joseon|Joseon dynasty]] [[buncheong]] ware wine flask depicting bamboo on one side (1600s)
File:Korea, Joseon dynasty - Wine Flask with Plum and Bamboo Design - 1999.44 - Cleveland Museum of Art.tif|Korean [[Joseon|Joseon dynasty]] [[buncheong]] ware wine flask depicting plum blossom (ume) on the other side
File:Celadon Vase, Goryeo Dynasty (17697970129).jpg|Chrysanthemum on early [[Goryeo|Goryeo Dynasty]] celadon vase (918-1392)
</gallery>
</gallery>


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[[Category:Japanese painting]]
[[Category:Japanese painting]]
[[Category:Vietnamese painting]]
[[Category:Vietnamese painting]]
[[Category:East Asian culture]]
[[Category:Culture of East Asia]]
[[Category:Chinese iconography]]
[[Category:Chinese iconography]]
[[Category:Vietnamese iconography]]
[[Category:Japanese iconography]]
[[Category:Plants in art]]
[[Category:Plants in art]]
[[Category:Korean traditions]]
[[Category:Korean iconography]]

Latest revision as of 19:29, 23 June 2024

Four Gentlemen
Chinese四君子
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinSìjūnzi
Wu
Romanizationsy去 ciuin平 tsy上
Hakka
Romanizationxi55 giun24 zii31
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingsei3 gwan1 zi2
Southern Min
Hokkien POJsì-kun-chú
Tâi-lôsì-kun-tsú

In Chinese art, the Four Gentlemen or Four Noble Ones (Chinese: 四君子; pinyin: Sì Jūnzǐ), is a collective term referring to four plants: the plum blossom, the orchid, the bamboo, and the chrysanthemum.[1][2] The term compares the four plants to Confucian junzi, or "gentlemen". They are commonly depicted in bird-and-flower paintings, a broad category of classical Chinese art, and they are particularly popular subjects for ink wash painting.

The Four Gentlemen are a recurring theme in art because of their long history as symbols of traditional Chinese virtues, such as uprightness, purity, humility, and perseverance despite harsh conditions. Each of them represent a different season (the plum blossom for winter, the orchid for spring, the bamboo for summer, and the chrysanthemum for autumn), the four are used to depict the unfolding of the seasons through the year.

Together, the Four Gentlemen have been used in Chinese painting since the time of the Song dynasty (960–1279) since the publication of Mixtures Pharmacopeia aka Heji Jufang and were later adopted elsewhere in East Asia by artists in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. However, their individual meanings have been traced to far earlier times. For example, the first recorded description of bamboo as being a "gentleman" has been credited to the Duke Wu of Qin (697 to 678 BC) from the Zhou Dynasty.[3]

Korean adaptation of the Four Gentlemen

[edit]

The Four Gentlemen (Sagunja 사군자), also translated as the Four Gracious Plants, were depicted in celadon pottery from the Goryeo period (918-1392). [4] As tastes changed within the Joseon period (1392-1897) and blue and white porcelains dominated the royal households, the level of the artistry of depictions in ceramics approached the level of refinement found in ink-wash paintings.

The Four Gentlemen were also frequently used in patterns on mother-of-pearl lacquerware, iron bowls, calligraphy boards, pencil cases, and stone crafts such as inkstones and braziers.[5] Within Korean folk painting (Baekdongjado (百童子圖):

  • plum blossoms have come to symbolize fertility, this is perhaps due to an ancient Chinese custom of throwing plums to seek love;
  • an orchid has come to symbolize nobility, loyalty and fidelity;
  • chrysanthemums, especially an elixir made from yellow chrysanthemums, is believed to lead to longevity; and
  • bamboo is likened to a gentlemen's dignity and service to others.[3]
[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Orchids: The Four Gentlemen" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  2. ^ Symbolism in Brush Painting
  3. ^ a b "The Four Gentlemen in Poetry 나은크라프트 : 네이버 블로그". blog.naver.com. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  4. ^ Baek, In-san. "우리역사넷 Chapter 4 The ideals of the noble class reflected in the flowers, birds, and four gentlemen". contents.history.go.kr. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  5. ^ POSCO Art Museum. "The Four Gentlemen in Life [포스코미술관 특별 기고] 7편. 생활 속의 사군자화". newsroom.posco.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-04-13.
[edit]
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