Gathering of Zen Masters and Literati: Lingnan Monks' Paintings and Calligraphy and Haichuang Temple's Culture and Art Exhibition

Hosted by: Guangdong Museum

Co-organized by: Guangzhou Buddhist Association, Haichuang Temple, Guangzhou Museum of Art

Supported by: Sun Yat-sen Library of Guangdong Province, Qingyuan Museum, Foshan Museum, Jianghai District Museum of Jiangmen

Date: May 13, 2021 to August 29, 2021

Since the Tang dynasty, the Buddhist community in Lingnan has produced many monks skilled in calligraphy and painting. Particularly during the turbulent transition between the Ming and Qing dynasties, monk-artists led by Master Tiannan rose to prominence. Outside their religious duties, these monks devoted themselves to poetry, calligraphy, and painting, frequently gathering at temples such as Haichuang Temple to compose poetry, lecture, or join literati salons. Renowned in their time and admired across generations, they formed a distinctive cultural phenomenon in the history of religion and art in Guangdong and beyond.

This exhibition uses the calligraphy and painting of Lingnan monks and the cultural arts of Haichuang Temple as a start point. It both systematically presents the development and distinctive value of monastic calligraphy and painting in Lingnan, and highlights Haichuang Temple as a representative case — offering a multidimensional view of its achievements in poetry and art, book carving and printing, garden architecture, bonsai aesthetics, and cultural exchange between East and West. These two perspectives complement each other, enabling visitors to gain insight into the unique place and special contributions of Lingnan monk-artists within the broader cultural landscape of Guangdong.

Highlights of the Exhibition

Exhibition Views