Wu Daozi----Painting Sage

Wu Daozi (680-759), Han nationality, named Dao Xuan byTang Xuanzong. He is honored as Painting Sage by the following generations. In the painting history, he is regards as Wu Sheng. He is the most great painter in Tang Dynastry, living in Yangzhai (present day Yuzhou), Henan Province.

In Chinese history, three people are named as sages: the calligrapher Wang Xizhi of the West Jin Dynasty (265-316), the poet Du Fu of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the painter Wu Daozi, also of the Tang Dynasty.

                                       Wu Daozi                                                                                             Portraits of 87 Immortals                                       

Time of his main main activity was the Kaiyuan and Tianbao years (713-755) in the Tang Dynasty. Wu lost both his parents at a young age and lived a poor life when he was young. He learned painting from folk artists and sculptors. Wu was famous in his 20 years old because he studied hard and was talented in painting. Emperor Xuanzong invited Wu as an imperial painter in the court and named him as Daoxuan.

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