Dai Kui (Chinese: 戴逵) (ca. 331–396), courtesy name Andao (案道) was a writer, painter, and sculptor who lived during the Eastern Jin dynasty in China.[1][2]

Dai Kui was born in Zhi, modern day Su county in Anhui province.[3] He and his song, Dai Yong, were extremely influential in reinterpreting Buddhist iconography through a Chinese artistic lens; however, none of their work survives due to the later years of persecution and suppression of Buddhism.[4] Dao Kui was the first to master the dry-lacquer technique.[5]

He was known as a poet, painter, and musician and was one of the first to establish the tradition of scientific amateur painting (wenrenhua). He was also the leading sculptor of his time. He created bronze, lacquer statues, and carved wooden sculptures.[6] Dai Kui painted mostly Buddhist and Daoist themes.[7]

Dai Kui gained some notoriety after an incident where he refused to play the zither, which he was quite accomplished at, for a prince. Upon being summoned by the prince, he smashed the zither on the ground rather than perform as a court minstrel.[8]

References

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  1. ^ 蜂屋邦夫 [in Japanese] (2000). 〈戴逵的藝術.學問.信仰〉. 《道家思想與佛教》 (in Simplified Chinese). 欽偉剛譯. 瀋陽: 遼寧教育出版社. pp. 211–303. ISBN 7538258736.
  2. ^ Murmured Conversations: A Treatise on Poetry and Buddhism by the Poet-Monk Shinkei. Stanford University Press. 16 April 2008. p. 245. ISBN 978-0-8047-7939-5.
  3. ^ Knechtges, David R.; Chang, Taiping (10 September 2010). Ancient and Early Medieval Chinese Literature (vol.I): A Reference Guide, Part One. BRILL. p. 180. ISBN 978-90-04-19127-3.
  4. ^ Howard, Angela Falco; Hung, Wu; Song, Li; Hong, Yang (1 January 2006). Chinese Sculpture. Yale University Press. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-300-10065-5.
  5. ^ Pellizzi, Francesco (15 January 2010). Res: Anthropology and Aesthetics, 55/56: Absconding. Harvard University Press. pp. 53–56. ISBN 978-0-87365-854-6.
  6. ^ Lee, Sherman E. (1998). China, 5000 years: innovation and transformation in the arts. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. New York : Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. ISBN 978-0-89207-202-6.
  7. ^ "Chinese painting - Qin (221–206 bce) and Han (206 bce–220 ce) dynasties". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  8. ^ Zhitui, Yan (8 March 2021). Kroll, Paul (ed.). Family Instructions for the Yan Clan and Other Works by Yan Zhitui (531–590s). De Gruyter. p. 433. doi:10.1515/9781501503191. ISBN 978-1-5015-0319-1.