Chen Zizhuang’s Originary Realm and His Aesthetic Thought of Resonant Integration

Abstract

Chen Zizhuang was a distinctive artist in the history of modern and contemporary Chinese painting. His artistic thought takes “plainness and innocent naturalness (平淡天真)” as its spiritual core, “simplicity, rusticity, and striking ruggedness (简拙奇崛)” as its formal language, and “the warmth of everyday life” as its emotional tone. Together, these elements form a complete and profound aesthetic system. In the content, emotion, and many other dimensions of painting, he emphasized “truth,” thereby embodying an exploration of the originary realm (本源境界) and resonant-integration aesthetics (感合美学). His art is not merely an expression of personal style; it is also a vivid interpretation of the spirit of traditional Chinese culture in a modern and contemporary context. At the same time, against the background of the encounter and collision between Chinese and Western civilizations in the twentieth century, his thought differed from mainstream trends and pointed to a path of inward exploration for Chinese painting. It continues to possess significant value even today.