Xie He (artist)

Xie He (謝赫, active 5th century-early 6th century CE) was a Chinese painter, art historian, and critic active during the Southern Dynasties period. He is best known for formulating the "Six Principles of Painting" (繪畫六法; pinyin: huìhuà liù fǎ), outlined in his now largely lost book Record of the Classification of Old Painters (古畫品錄; pinyin: Gǔ Huà Pǐn Lù).

The Six Principles of Painting are:

1. Qiyun Shengdong (氣韻生動; pinyin: qìyùn shēngdòng): "Spirit Resonance, Life-Movement", or vitality. This often refers to the essence of the subject matter, and the artist's ability to capture that essence.
2. Gufa Yongbi (骨法用筆; pinyin: gǔfǎ yòngbǐ): "Structural Method in the Use of the Brush", or "Bone Method". This refers to brushwork and the structural integrity of the painting, emphasizing the calligraphic quality of the lines.
3. Yingwu Xiangxing (應物象形; pinyin: yìngwù xiàngxíng): "Resemblance to Objects, Depicting Form", or fidelity to depiction. This focuses on accurately representing the forms of objects.
4. Suilei Fucai (隨類賦彩; pinyin: suílèi fùcǎi): "Following Kind, Applying Colors", or appropriate coloring. This emphasizes the use of colors that are appropriate to the subject matter and enhance the overall effect of the painting.
5. Jingying Weizhi (經營位置; pinyin: jīngyíng wèizhì): "Planning and Placement", or composition. This refers to the arrangement and organization of elements within the painting.
6. Chuanyi Moxia (傳移模寫; pinyin: chuányí móxiě): "Transmission by Copying", or copying models. This highlights the importance of studying and learning from the works of past masters through copying.

While none of Xie He's original paintings survive, his Six Principles have had a profound and lasting influence on Chinese painting theory and practice for centuries. They provide a framework for understanding and evaluating artistic merit and continue to be a relevant and influential concept in the study of Chinese art.