Zhang Ji

CHINA; Northern Song dynasty

Zhang Ji was a painter who was also known as Touzi or Touzi Shansou. Being that he was the nephew of renowned artist, Li Gonglin, his painting style showed much of his influence. He was adept in painting landscapes and images of Buddhist and Daoist figures. In his works, his lines flowed smooth and lively, and were intermixed with bold and fine strokes. Zhang’s use of ink wash gave the works an air of ancient elegance, while his rock and tree portrayals were solid and creative.
His painting, White Lotus Society, depicted the scene in which Master Huiyuan and his followers formed the Lotus Society and practiced being mindful of Amitabha Buddha in hopes to be reborn in the Pure Land. The painting is now kept at the Liaoning Provincial Museum in Shenyang.