Translated by Yuan Fang and Jiachun Xie Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. The Practicality of Fine Art [1] 美術底實用 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 民國以來國畫之史的觀察
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 民國以來國畫之史的觀察 I: The Literati in Traditional Chinese Painting 一、中國畫的文人畫 A Chinese understanding of art is still (very much)…
Xu Beihong 徐悲鴻: 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] 徐悲鴻: 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 我們為什麼提倡藝術
Translated by Wu Tong and Guo Danqing Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Why We Should Advocate Art 我們為什麼提倡藝術 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 陳曉江: Advocating for the Arts 提倡藝術應有的途徑
Translated by Mengzhen Zhao and Tong Song Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Advocating for the Arts 提倡藝術應有的途徑 In recent times, Chinese society has shown a greater interest in art, with Western painting (xiyanghua 西洋畫) enjoying a particularly avid interest.[1] One can see that New Art (xinyishu 新藝術) has somewhat shocked…
Xu Beihong 徐悲鴻: The Reform of Chinese Painting 中國畫改良論
Translated by Yuan Fang and Jiachun Xie Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. The Reform of Chinese Painting 中國畫改良論 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 汪亞塵: Beauty and Fine Art 美與美術
Translated by Yuan Fang and Jiachun Xie Please see the PDF version of this text here for footnotes. Beauty and Fine Art 美與美術[1] 美與美術 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”與“美術”是兩樣東西，不能混在一起講的，我現在要將這個“美”與“美術”拿來大略解釋解釋： What is beauty?…
Cai Yuanpei 蔡元培: The Relationship between Science and Art 美術與科學的關係
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] 美術與科學的關係 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 汪亞塵: Conditions that Should be Considered in Painting 繪畫上應該注意的條件
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 繪畫上應該注意的條件 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…