1. Don’t judge painting bamboo as difficult or easy. It’s hard and difficult to make it simple, and it’s even harder. You see Xiao Xiao only counting leaves, the whole hall is filled with wind and rain and is extremely cold. ——Ming Dynasty: Li Dongyang's "Ke Jingzhong's Ink Bamboo"

Translation: Don't talk casually about the difficulty or ease of painting bamboo. It should be said that freehand brushwork is more difficult than fine brushwork. You see, he sparsely painted a few bamboo leaves, which exaggerated the awe-inspiring wind and rain and cold air in the whole hall.

2. Take the good paintings and write poems and send them to Shui Cao Lang. ——Tang Dynasty: Bai Juyi's "The Strange Scenery Viewed from the River Tower at Night" was sent to Zhang Yuanwai of the Water Department.

Translation: Such a beautiful scenery can only be outlined with paint, inscribed with poems on the painting, and sent to To a friend who is not around.

3. Who says it is impossible to paint a sad picture? Painting people’s hearts beats the world’s human feelings. ——Tang Dynasty: Wei Zhuang's "Jinling Pictures"

Translation: Who said that the sad things in the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties cannot be painted, it is just that those painters did not paint sad pictures in order to cater to the mentality of those in power.

4. There are infinite painting hands in the world, but there is no way to paint a picture without sadness. ——Tang Dynasty: Gao Chan's "Light View at Jinling"

Translation: There are countless masters of painting in this world, but none of them can paint the sadness in their hearts.

5. The mountains look colorful from a distance, but the water sounds silent when up close. When spring comes, the flowers are still there, and the birds are not surprised when people come. ——Tang Dynasty: Wang Wei's "Painting"

Translation: From a distance, the colors of the mountains are bright, but when you get closer, you can't hear the sound of water. Spring has passed, but there are still many flowers and plants in full bloom. People approach, but the birds are still not disturbed.