Landscape of the Soul

Summary
This extract highlights the basics of art—Chinese and European. These present a study in contrast. The Chinese paintings are not as realistic and perfect as European
paintings. A classical Chinese landscape does not produce the actual view. It can be entered from any point. The viewer is free to travel up and down. He has to
participate in it both physically and mentally. The scenery is an inner one. An emperor could rule over his big conquered territory but only an artist could enter it.
In European art, the viewer has to borrow the eye of the painter to look at a landscape. The scene creates an illusion of likeness with reality. This Idea has been through stories.
The lesson also explains the word landscape and the concept of shanshui. It is the Daoist view. Land stands for vertical and Masculine Mountain. Scape represents water that shows horizontally and is feminine in character. They have to interact although they are like two poles of the universe. The man who acts as their connector is the eye of the landscape.

1.What wonderful tale is told about the Chinese painter Wu daozi?
Ans. The Chinese Emperor commissioned the painter Wu daozi, to decorate the palace walls with landscape paintings. He did his job very well but worked behind a
curtain. Only the king could see and admire it. But the painter got into a cave, no less beautiful. The gate closed before the king could enter it. All the paintings also
disappeared along with their maker.
2. What idea about art did the story of Wu daozi convey?
Ans. The Chinese story conveys the idea that the Emperor could only rule over his territory, and not understand the spirit of art. Only the artist knows the way within. He
alone can enter the spirit of the universe.
3. What did the Chinese philosophers try to achieve through their story books?
Ans. The two Chinese philosophers Confucius and included many stories in their books. They meant to guide their disciples in the right direction. Secondly, the stories
reveal the spirit in which art was considered in ancient China.
4. Contrast Wu Dao Zi’s story with another famous painter’s story. What is that story?
Ans. Daozi’s story is in contrast to another story. Another famous painter drew the picture of a dragon, but without the eyes. He had a fear that if he painted the eyes,
the dragon would then 􀄈y out of the painting.
5. What does the European story about Quinten Metsys illustrate?
Ans. The story about Quinten Metsys illustrates the illusion of reality created by European paintings. It deals with outer appearances. While Asian art tries to capture
the spirit or inner life.
6. What does the Chinese story about the Emperor and Wu Daoziillustrate?
Ans. The Chinese story deals with the magic of art and skill of the artist. Wu Daozi created wonderful landscapes on the palace walls. The emperor admired only the
outer looks of the work. Only the painter knew how to enter the mysterious world of art. An artist alone understands the mysterious works of the universe.
7. Bring out, in brief, the contrast between European art and Chinese art.
Ans. The European or western landscape reproduces the actual view. It creates the illusion of reality. The painter wants the viewers to see his work through his eyes and
from a specifc angle. The Chinese landscape is vague. It calls upon the viewers to use their eyes as well as imagination to see its inner beauty.
13. How do Yang and yin illustrate the story of the origin of the human race?
Ans. Yang and yin are a part of the Daoist view of the world. These are two poles which complement each other in producing energy and this universe. Yang island, or
solid vertical mountain. Yin is water that 􀄈ows horizontally. The union of male and female energy has created this universe.
14. What is the third element, represents by the ‘Middle Void’ in Chinese landscape?
Ans. The masculine energy of Yang and the female energy of Yin are incomplete without each other. But their interaction takes place in the ‘middle void’, or blank space
left in a Chinese landscape. Nothing can happen without the combination of both aspects of energy.
15. What is the role of man in the space between Heaven and Earth?
Ans. Yang or the male vertical mountain represents Heaven. Yin is the feminine aspect of energy. Water lies 􀄈at on the Earth. The space between Heaven and Earth is
connected to Man. He becomes a means of communication between the two.
16. What does the wonderful expression ‘the eye of the landscape’, as suggested by Francois Cheng, mean?
Ans. Francois Cheng, in his wonderful expression ‘the eye of the landscape’, refers to the importance of Man, and the fundamental role he plays. Man is not frightened
of high mountains as depicted in a natural landscape. He links the two poles and he alone has got the eye to understand the landscape.
4. What are Nek Chand’s unique achievement and gift to the world? How did he get international recognition?
Ans. The India-born and altogether untrained artist Nek Chand developed the concept of ‘outsider art’. He created a paradise using waste material at Chandigarh. He cut
and cleared the rocky place and created his dream. This drew the attention of the world. His art is the art of an untrained visionary. It is said to be the art of those who
have ‘no right’ to be called artists because they have received no formal training. But sometimes such artists show remarkable talent and insight. Nek Chand’s creation is
known as the ‘Rock Garden’.