Requirement for Chinese Painter

中国画画家的技术要求

Much skill is required of the Chinese painter，who must wield¹ the soft brush with strength and dexterity² to create a wide variety of lines—thick, thin, dense，light, long, short, dry, wet, etc. Depending on his skills, he might specialize in detailed³ and delicate line drawing (Gongbi) or abstractimpressionistic (Xieyi) paintings. Line drawing is the basic training of a painter, who must learn it well before moving on to the delicate details of realistic scenes or the more abstract spirit of impressionism. Another special skill worthy⁴ of mention is painting with fingers instead of a brush，which creates a very different effect.

中国画家是需要很多技能的，他们必须用力量和敏捷挥动软软的毛笔，制造各种各样的线条，粗细、深浅、长短、干湿等。他们根据自己的技能，专注于细节和细腻的画线（工笔）或抽象，写意画作。画线是一个画家的基本训练，他们在画逼真的场景、细腻的细节或印象派的更抽象的精神之前必须学好它。另一个值得一提看家本领的是用手指代替画笔画画，它产生了一个完全不同的效果。

No matter what the subject or the style, traditional Chinese painting should be infused with imagination and soul. A traditional story that captures the Chinese view of painting tells about the establishment of a royal college of painting during the reign⁵ of Emperor Huizong. Examinations were held to recruit the best painters. Examinees were asked to draw a picture that reflected the joy of people who had just returned from a spring outing, an outing that had been so pleasant that even the horseshoes seemed fragrant⁶. Many endeavored to depict⁷ this bright scene but only one work was chosen ； the painter simply drew a horses hoof⁸ followed by butterflies which were in graceful⁹ flight. This painter had managed to capture the essential spirit and beauty of the scene.

不管是什么主题或风格，中国传统绘画都应注入想象和灵魂。有一个传统的故事，讲述宋徽宗在位时建立绘画的皇家学院已经对中国绘画的看法。举行考试招募最好的画家。考生被要求画一个刚刚春游回来的人的快乐，即使是马蹄也充满香气。许多努力来描述这点，但只有一个人的作品被选上了，画家只是画了一个马蹄随后跟着几只优美飞行的蝴蝶。这个画家设法捕捉画的本质精神和美。