Draft:Jin De Zeng

Zeng Jinde (1944–2006) was born in Hui'an, Fujian. At the age of five, he began his studies at his grandfather Su Youlan's private school. At fourteen, he was accepted into the Xiamen Academy of Arts and Crafts, where he received guidance from teachers such as Zhang Xiaohan, Yang Xialin, Shi Yanling, Gu Yichen, and Yang Sheng, with special care from Zhang Xiaohan. After graduating in 1963, he was selected to work at the newly established Dehua Porcelain Factory, where he engaged in research and design of Dehua porcelain.

Zeng Jinde lived and worked in Dehua for 41 years, studying Chinese painting, ceramics, and the history of Chinese arts and crafts. He extensively read classical poetry and major works from China and abroad, exploring and practicing the essence of Eastern art—shaping form from the heart. He dedicated himself to exploring and creating Chinese paintings, expressing his worldview through landscapes, flowers, birds, and figures. His art captured his inner emotions and ideas, appearing chaotic and almost frenzied, yet expressing the ultimate freedom in artistic creation. He frequently added lengthy inscriptions, poems, and personal reflections to his paintings, sometimes recording life events or current feelings without adhering to any formal structure, making his work a direct reflection of his life's journey.

Zeng Jinde lived a life of simplicity, content with solitude. The spirit of nature and the sounds of the wild were not only evident in his artwork but also reflected in the numerous short essays, diaries, letters, and inscriptions he left behind. Like an orchid in the mountains, quietly fragrant on its own, Zeng Jinde passed away in Quanzhou at the age of 63. ^[2]

Chinese landscape painting is not merely the depiction of scenery; it is like prose or poetry, serving more as a form of narration, emotional expression, and spiritual refuge. It is a philosophical image, an idealistic pursuit akin to a religious totem, eternal and unchanging.

Painting is like writing an essay or creating a realm. One must cut away all the excess, leaving only what is essential. Cultivate the world within your heart and construct the environment you long for. Painting, like poetry, should eliminate all complexity and allow the artist to fully immerse themselves in the work, without striving for any particular form or style. Simplicity, like the poetry of Yang Wanli and Lu You, is ideal.

A painting only comes to life when the artist is unafraid and not anxious about making mistakes. Starting from nothing, without repetition, facing the blank paper, one must be willing to take risks. A flawless painting is not necessarily great; a slight imperfection is what makes it real. Art is not a mere copy of life—it is like religion, emerging from the drift of thoughts and emotions, appearing in the flashes of wisdom. It captures traces of your existence at a particular moment, not as a reproduction of your accustomed past, nor as a repetition of stale and worn-out themes. ^[3]

• First, he had a unique appreciation for traditional painting, especially the spiritual essence of literati painting. He deeply understood the "elegance" of this tradition, and his brushwork demonstrated extraordinary skill, free from vulgarity. As he aged, his art increasingly embodied a combination of maturity and authenticity.
• Second, he long regarded life as his teacher, and his paintings, notes, and writings all reflected his observations and feelings from daily life. As a result, his works were rich in the charm of everyday life, exuding simplicity and innocence. Whether portraying people, landscapes, or flowers and birds, every scene that moved him was transformed into imagery through his brush, making him a rare, versatile artist, akin to the essence of Zen.
• Third, his paintings were not only of external subjects but also reflected psychological realities. Many of his works were expressions of his subconscious, revealing his true emotions. Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness all flowed freely through his brushstrokes, unfolding naturally. This imprint of spirit is perhaps the most touching aspect of Zeng Jinde's art, moving and inspiring us deeply. [4]

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