About Kun Can
Lived 1612 – 1674 (aged 61–62). Kun Can was a Chinese painter, monk and calligrapher.
Landscape with waterfalls and trees, 1636. Ashmolean Museum, Oxford Kun Can (髡殘, Buddhist name; common name: 劉石谿 (Liu Shixi or Liu Jieqiu)) (1612 to after 1674) was a Chinese Buddhist monk and painter during Ming and Qing dynasties. He hailed from Hunan, but spent most of his life in Nanjing. He became a Chan Buddhist monk at an early age and in Nanjing was abbot of a monastery on Niushou Shan. His style of landscape painting was influenced by Wang Meng and he is one of the Four Monk Masters in the early Qing Dynasty. The others being Zhu Da, Hong Ren, and Shitao. As he was also known as Shi Xi he was at times said to be one of the "Two Shi". Few of Kun Can's works survive.
Unlike some of the other Monk Masters he seems to have become a monk well before the fall of the Ming dynasty. In personality he was noted for being frank and straightforward.
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Jueqiu, An-chu-hsing-jen, Shiqiheshang, Shih-tao-jen, Shixi, Baitu, Liu, Kuncan, Can Daoren, Candaoren, Shidaoren, Jieqiu, Yigexianrentiandijian, Dagao, Tianrangcanzhe, Haomeng, Renruxianren, Yerang, Yerangshi daoren, Candaozhe, Shixishuwu, Shixiheshang, Shi daoren, Tucan, Qiankun, Shikuncanzhe, Kuncan daorenPeople in Kun Can's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Kun Can's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Kun Can?
Chinese painter (1612-1674)
When was Kun Can born?
Kun Can was born in 1612.
When did Kun Can die?
Kun Can died in 1674.
What was Kun Can's occupation?
Kun Can was a painter, monk and calligrapher.
What nationality was Kun Can?
Kun Can was Chinese.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kun Can. https://biography.guide/kun-can/
MLA: "Kun Can." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kun-can/.
Chicago: "Kun Can." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kun-can/.
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