Zhao Changyuan

CHINA, Sichuan; Later Shu Kingdom to Northern Song dynasty (934–1127)

Zhao Changyuan, also thought to be Zhao Yuanchang, with an alias of Lushan, was a painter from Shu (present day Sichuan). Knowledgeable in astronomy and good at painting, he served as an astronomy officer responsible for drawing astronomic constellations and stellar arrangements during the rule of Emperor Meng Chang (reigned 934–965) of the Later Shu Kingdom. After the fall of Shu, he served as a decoration craftsman in the imperial workshop of the Song dynasty.
Zhao is said to have once painted a pheasant on the emperor’s chair. It was so realistic that a hawk flew over trying to catch it. Greatly impressed, Emperor Taizu (reigned 960–976) of the Northern Song dynasty summoned him to work in the Imperial Painting Academy. He was ordered first to create a painting of an auspicious deity for the East Taiyi Palace, and then to imitate the painting of Destiny Conforming Sixteen Arhats by Wang Qihan in the Avatamsaka Courtyard. His paintings were noted in Overview of Painting and Evaluation of Famous Painters of the Song Dynasty.