Kuo Hsin-Lin

TAIWAN, Changhua

Kuo Hsin-Lin was a painter whose ancestors came from Quanzhou, Fujian. For several generations, the Kuo family was reputed as one of the earliest practitioners of Taiwanese color painting. As such, Kuo became skilled in painting figures, particularly that of religious figures of the Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) dynasties. His images emphasized contrasting dark and light tones which projected a unique three-dimensional impression.
His works possess high artistic value, and were circulated primarily throughout central Taiwan. Alongside his son and nephew, Kuo produced several murals at Longshan Temple in Lukang between 1958 and 1964. The Dharma Protectors were painted on the main doors of the main hall and the Five Door Hall; while Narayana and Guhyapada are depicted on the main doors of the rear hall. These murals are now considered important cultural assets of the temple.