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Liang Kai

1200 – 1300

Chinese artist

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About Liang Kai

Lived 1200 – 1300. Liang Kai was a Chinese painter and artist.

Liang Kai (; c. 1140 - c. 1210) was a Chinese painter of the Southern Song Dynasty. He was also known as Madman Liang because of his very informal pictures. He was born in Shandong and worked in Lin An (later Hangzhou). He is known to have studied with the master Jia Shigu. He was awarded the rank of Painter-in-Attendance at the court of Jia Tai (1201-1204 CE, Southern Song Dynasty) where he was known for mastery in painting figures, landscapes, and other minor subjects. Sixth Chan Patriarch Chopping Bamboo, early 13th century. Hanging scroll, Tokyo National Museum.

Painting style Liang Kai is most famous for originating or developing the "Xie Yi" (sometimes translated as "sketch style") of painting, where the objective is to evoke the subject or atmosphere with minimal use of detail; it requires a profound mastery of painting technique and perfect concentration, but also allows for the beauty of accidental effects. The Xie Yi style is closely associated with the "sudden enlightenment", "mindfulness", and "spontaneity" aspects of this school of Buddhism. Works generally attributed to Liáng Kǎi include: painting of the poet Li Bai, the Drunken Celestial (A Sage), The Sixth Patriarch Cutting Bamboo, and in a more academic style, a series called the Eight Eminent Monks paintings. .

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Important facts

Born
1200, Shandong
Birth century
Died
1300
Occupation
Also known as
Bailiang

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Liang Kai's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Liang Kai?

Chinese artist

When was Liang Kai born?

Liang Kai was born in 1200 in Shandong.

When did Liang Kai die?

Liang Kai died in 1300.

What was Liang Kai's occupation?

Liang Kai was a painter and artist.

What nationality was Liang Kai?

Liang Kai was Chinese.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Liang Kai

· Wikidata: Q740332

· DBpedia: Liang Kai

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Liang Kai. https://biography.guide/liang-kai/

MLA: "Liang Kai." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/liang-kai/.

Chicago: "Liang Kai." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/liang-kai/.

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