"Paint the classic subjects that inspired ancient masters. As "the soft martial art," brush painting is a meditative discipline for the artist who has trained the body, arm, and brush to create strokes with power and spontaneity. This book introduces the venerable art of painting with ink on rice paper using traditional Chinese techniques developed over a thousand years ago. It is addressed to the committed beginner willing to invest time in practicing a large variety of techniques and subject matter. In these pages you will learn to paint: towering landscapes; the elegant Four Gentlemen: bamboo, orchid, plum blossom, and chrysanthemum; the rugged, steadfast pine; and five fun animals from the Chinese Zodiac: rat, rabbit, rooster, horse, and dragon, as well as the basic strokes used in calligraphy to acquire the expressiveness of line that makes a painting energized and eye-catching. As you work through the exercises you will gain insight into the historical context and symbolism portrayed by the classic forms even as you build proficiency with the time honored techniques"--Publisher's description.