Translated by Yuan Fang and Jiachun Xie Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. The Practicality of Fine Art [1] 美术底实用 Art is the antithesis of the practical. The artistic is dependent on one’s refinement (wen), while the practical is dependent on raw substance (zhi). Why should I advocate the practicality of…
Chinese Art History
This project aims to translate early twentieth century canonical Chinese texts on art into English. Students from the University of Melbourne’s Master of Translation and Interpreting programme worked on these translations in 2019 as part of the subject Translation in a Chinese Context.
As always, make sure to click on the PDF version of the translation to see a version with footnotes and full references. Please cite our translators and our website when using this material. All translations are protected under Creative Commons 4.0.
Fu Baoshi 傅抱石: Reviewing Traditional Chinese Painting since the Establishment of the Republic of China 民国以来国画之史的观察
Translated by Jiren Liu, Lei Hou, Wenying Pan, Lu Zong, Ziyue Ding & Xiao Liang Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Reviewing Traditional Chinese Painting since the Establishment of the Republic of China 民国以来国画之史的观察 I: The Literati in Traditional Chinese Painting 一、中国画的文人画 A Chinese understanding of art is still (very much)…
Xu Beihong 徐悲鸿: In Question 惑
Translated by Tianyue Wang, Tanda Li, Lijing Zhu, Zhengtang Ma and Damian Mandzunowski Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Xu Beihong:[1] In Question[2] 徐悲鸿: 惑 Holding China’s inaugural National Exhibition of Art is a joyous occasion deserving appraisal.[3] But the most laudable aspect is that there will not be any artwork by…
Li Yishi 李毅士: Why We Should Advocate Art 我们为什么提倡艺术
Translated by Wu Tong and Guo Danqing Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Why We Should Advocate Art 我们为什么提倡艺术 Art is representative of national culture. The progress of a country’s art represents its cultural progress. In China, a nation of ancient culture, we are in decline and cannot catch up with…
Li Yishi 李毅士: I Have No Questions 我不“惑”
Translated by Tianyue Wang, Tanda Li, Lijing Zhu and Zhengtang Ma Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. I Have No Questions 我不“惑” An old man in his forties should not be perplexed. Having read both articles, I got to know the two Mister Xus.[1] I had questions when I read their…
Chen Xiaojiang 陈晓江: Advocating for the Arts 提倡艺术应有的途径
Translated by Mengzhen Zhao and Tong Song Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Advocating for the Arts 提倡艺术应有的途径 In recent times, Chinese society has shown a greater interest in art, with Western painting (xiyanghua 西洋画) enjoying a particularly avid interest.[1] One can see that New Art (xinyishu 新艺术) has somewhat shocked…
Xu Beihong 徐悲鸿: The Reform of Chinese Painting 中国画改良论
Translated by Yuan Fang and Jiachun Xie Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. The Reform of Chinese Painting 中国画改良论 The decadence of Chinese painting has reached its peak today! Theoretically speaking, this world’s material civilization should not be going backwards. However, the style of Chinese painting today is like going fifty…
Wang Yachen 汪亚尘: Beauty and Fine Art 美与美术
Translated by Yuan Fang and Jiachun Xie Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Beauty and Fine Art 美与美术[1] 美与美术 The concepts of ‘beauty’ and ‘fine art’ are completely different and cannot be talked about as one. Now, I will give a brief explanation of the two concepts.[2] “美”与“美术”是两样东西，不能混在一起讲的，我现在要将这个“美”与“美术”拿来大略解释解释： What is beauty?…
Cai Yuanpei 蔡元培: The Relationship between Science and Art 美术与科学的关系
Translated by Wendy Xue and Yuning Yan Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. The Relationship between Science and Art[1] 美术与科学的关系 There are three components to our psychology: will, knowledge and emotion. Will is reflected in behaviour, which belongs to ethics. Knowledge comes from different branches of science. Emotions belong to art. It…
Wang Yachen 汪亚尘: Conditions that Should be Considered in Painting 绘画上应该注意的条件
Translated by Shangze Li, Siqi Wu, Jane Huang and Qiang Yuan Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Conditions that Should be Considered in Painting 绘画上应该注意的条件 Over the past few years, Western painting in China has entered its initial phase of introduction. It is likely that those who learn painting will stray from…