Wu Zongyuan

CHINA, Henan, Luoyang; Northern Song dynasty

Wu Zongyuan, originally named Wu Zongdao and also known as Zongzhi, was a painter from Baibo (present day Mengjin, Luoyang). He served as an assistant officer in the Division of Mountains and Water in the Department of Engineering and Construction.
Skilled in painting Buddhist and Daoist figures, Wu modeled his works after the style of Wu Daozi. He once imitated the paintings of Manjusri and Samantabhadra by Wu Daozi at Guangai Temple in Henan. At the age of 17, he repaired a mural at Laozi Temple in Henan; the work was highly praised. In 1007, Emperor Zhenzong (reigned 997–1022 ) of the Song dynasty ordered the construction of Yuqing Zhaoying Palace and summoned painters to create murals. Wu was ranked highest among the hundred painters selected. He assumed the position of leader for mural paintings in Sanqing Hall of the palace.
Wu also painted a large number of murals for several temples in the regions of Kaifeng and Luoyang, including the Brahma and Sakra at Longxing Temple, Udayana Buddha at Jingzang Temple, and Heavenly Kings in Procession at Songyue Temple.
His scroll painting of Immortals Paying Homage to Yuanshi Tianzun was a classical painting using the iron-wire drawing technique. His other scroll paintings such as Sakra, Heavenly Kings, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and Master Xuanzang are listed in Xuanhe Catalog of Paintings.