论“外师造化,中得心源”

On the Saying “Advocate the Nature and You Will Comprehend the Essence” in Chinese Painting

通常讲中国画是讲究自我表现的艺术 ,而这种自我表现特点形成 ,张 的“外师造化 ,中得心源”之说 ,当是其中最大的关捩点。相较于姚最的“心师造化” ,之含糊、笼统 ,张 的“外师造化 ,中得心源”显然“其义更胜”。张 的“外师造化 ,中得心源” ,突破了早期画论中“以造化为粉本”、单纯摹仿自然的观念 ,而在绘画中引入主体心灵 ,使绘画与文学、书法一样成为一种“心印” ,为文人画创造了理论基础。

People always say the traditional Chinese painting is an art that expresses the painter himself. This viewpoint is implied in Zhang Zao’s saying, “comply with the nature (when painting) and you will comprehend the essence”, which is a very important turning point. Compared with the Yao Zui’s “complying with the painter himself”, which is misty and general, Zhang Zao’s theory is more reasonable. Zhang’s theory surpassed the viewpoint of simply copying the nature in the early painting theories. It pays attention to the soul of the principal part of the painting, and makes the painting a “koan” as literature and calligraphy, and establishes theoretical base for the literati.