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Consider some of these classical Chinese means of artistic
expression in a contemporary context.
It is no longer very common to
associate flowers or plants with figures of political authority. Doing so, however,
not only provided authors with a rich and complex way of describing well-known
and powerful individuals or institutions, but it also provided a measure of secrecy
to protect them from persecution. Taking into account their fragrance, growing
habits, and physical properties, choose a plant to symbolize each of the last
three American presidents or other prominent figures.
Qian Xuan's Pear
Blossoms is an excellent example of the combination of painting,
poetry, and calligraphy—known as "the three perfections"—to
create one unified composition that could be enjoyed and understood on many levels.
"The three perfections" employ two of the four fine-art forms that Confucian
scholars believed every educated individual should appreciate and practice. In
addition to painting and calligraphy, "the four accomplishments" included
music and the strategy game of weiqi, played on a board with black-and-white
stones. Think of four accomplishments that are considered essential for all refined
individuals in our own time. Back
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