====== zìhuà: 字画 - Calligraphy and Painting ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** zihua, 字画, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese painting, traditional Chinese art, scroll painting, 書法 (shūfǎ), 國畫 (guóhuà), Chinese art gift, Chinese scroll.
  * **Summary:** A fundamental term in Chinese culture, **字画 (zìhuà)** refers to traditional works of art that masterfully combine calligraphy and painting, typically on paper or silk scrolls. This entry explores the deep cultural significance of **字画**, its role as a symbol of refinement and a prestigious gift, and how to appreciate this unique fusion of literature and visual art in modern China.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** zì huà
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** A collective term for traditional works of Chinese calligraphy and painting.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **字画 (zìhuà)** literally translates to "character-painting." It refers to a single piece of art, often a scroll, that features beautiful brushwork. This can be a work of pure calligraphy, a painting, or, most iconically, a combination of both. It's the quintessential form of traditional Chinese visual art, where the act of writing is considered as artistic as the act of painting.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **字 (zì):** This character means "word" or "character." Its ancient form shows a child (子) under a roof (宀), which some interpret as symbolizing the "birth" or generation of written words within a household or community.
  * **画 (huà):** This character means "to paint" or "a picture." The traditional form (畫) shows a hand holding a brush (聿) delineating the borders of a field (田), vividly capturing the act of drawing or creating boundaries.
  * Together, **字画 (zìhuà)** combines these two concepts to describe an art form where the written word and the painted image are unified, created with the same tools (brush and ink) and valued for the same aesthetic principles of balance, rhythm, and spirit.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
In Chinese culture, **字画 (zìhuà)** is far more than mere decoration; it is a profound expression of a person's inner character, education, and philosophical outlook.
The creation of **字画** was traditionally considered one of the "Four Arts" (四艺, sìyì) of the Chinese scholar-official. A person's brushwork was seen as a direct reflection of their moral integrity and level of cultivation. This fusion of arts is a key differentiator from Western traditions.
  * **Comparison with Western "Artwork":** In the West, poetry, calligraphy (as a craft), and painting are generally treated as distinct disciplines. A painting might have a title and a signature, but they are supplementary. In a Chinese **字画**, the calligraphic inscription—often a poem composed by the artist—is an integral part of the composition itself. The words are not just a label; they are a visual and literary element that balances the painted image. The artistic quality of the characters is judged as critically as the depiction of the bamboo or mountain. It's not a "picture with words" but an integrated artistic statement.
This art form reflects core Chinese values like the harmony between humanity and nature (a common subject), respect for history and tradition (artists often emulate past masters), and the importance of personal cultivation and scholarly refinement.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
While its origins are ancient, **字画** remains highly relevant in modern China.
  * **As Decoration:** It is common to see **字画** hanging in homes, corporate offices, restaurants, and tea houses. They are used to create an atmosphere of elegance, tradition, and intellectual sophistication. A piece depicting powerful mountains might be chosen for an office to imply stability, while one of peaceful bamboo might be hung in a study to inspire tranquility.
  * **As a Prestigious Gift:** Giving a **字画** is a sign of great respect and good taste. It is a common high-end gift for significant life events (weddings, housewarmings), business openings, or to honor a respected elder or mentor. The gift implies that the recipient is a person of culture and refinement.
  * **As an Investment:** The market for **字画**, both antique and contemporary, is a major sector of the global art market. Collecting **字画** by famous artists is a popular hobby and form of investment for the wealthy.
The term's connotation is overwhelmingly positive, associated with beauty, culture, history, and prestige. It is used in both formal and informal settings when discussing art, decoration, or gifts.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 他家客厅里挂着一幅很漂亮的**字画**。
    * Pinyin: Tā jiā kètīng lǐ guàzhe yī fú hěn piàoliang de zìhuà.
    * English: There is a very beautiful work of calligraphy and painting hanging in his living room.
    * Analysis: This is a very common, everyday use of the term. Note the use of the measure word 幅 (fú), which is standard for paintings and scrolls.
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 我爷爷过生日，我打算送他一幅名家**字画**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ yéye guò shēngrì, wǒ dǎsuàn sòng tā yī fú míngjiā zìhuà.
    * English: It's my grandpa's birthday, and I plan to give him a piece of calligraphy and painting by a famous artist.
    * Analysis: This highlights the role of **字画** as a respectful gift for elders. "名家 (míngjiā)" means "famous master," indicating a high-quality, valuable gift.
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 这幅**字画**的笔墨功夫非常深厚。
    * Pinyin: Zhè fú zìhuà de bǐmò gōngfū fēicháng shēnhòu.
    * English: The brushwork skill in this piece of art is incredibly profound.
    * Analysis: This sentence shows how people critique or appreciate **字画**. "笔墨 (bǐmò)" refers to the brush and ink techniques, the core skill in this art form.
  * **Example 4:** 
    * 他最大的爱好就是收藏古董**字画**。
    * Pinyin: Tā zuìdà de àihào jiùshì shōucáng gǔdǒng zìhuà.
    * English: His biggest hobby is collecting antique calligraphy and paintings.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the use of **字画** in the context of collecting and hobbies.
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 这幅**字画**把诗、书、画完美地结合在了一起。
    * Pinyin: Zhè fú zìhuà bǎ shī, shū, huà wánměi de jiéhé zài le yīqǐ.
    * English: This artwork perfectly combines poetry, calligraphy, and painting.
    * Analysis: This sentence gets to the cultural heart of **字画**, referencing the "three perfections" (诗 shī - poetry, 书 shū - calligraphy, 画 huà - painting).
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 潘家园市场有很多卖**字画**的摊位。
    * Pinyin: Pānjiāyuán shìchǎng yǒu hěnduō mài zìhuà de tānwèi.
    * English: The Panjiayuan market has many stalls that sell calligraphy and paintings.
    * Analysis: A practical sentence for someone visiting a famous antique market in Beijing, showing where one might buy **字画**.
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 我们公司开业时，收到了很多祝贺的**字画**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī kāiyè shí, shōudàole hěnduō zhùhè de zìhuà.
    * English: When our company opened for business, we received many congratulatory works of calligraphy and painting.
    * Analysis: This illustrates the term's use in a formal, business context as a celebratory gift.
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 虽然我不懂**字画**，但我能感觉到它的意境很美。
    * Pinyin: Suīrán wǒ bù dǒng zìhuà, dàn wǒ néng gǎnjué dào tā de yìjìng hěn měi.
    * English: Although I don't understand calligraphy and painting, I can feel that its artistic mood is very beautiful.
    * Analysis: This is a useful phrase for a learner, showing humility while still expressing appreciation. "意境 (yìjìng)" is a key aesthetic concept often discussed in relation to **字画**.
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 裱糊一幅**字画**需要精湛的手艺。
    * Pinyin: Biǎohu yī fú zìhuà xūyào jīngzhàn de shǒuyì.
    * English: Mounting a piece of calligraphy and painting requires exquisite craftsmanship.
    * Analysis: This refers to the process of mounting the artwork onto a silk scroll (裱糊, biǎohu), an art form in itself.
  * **Example 10:** 
    * 这幅**字画**的作者是齐白石，是国宝级的文物。
    * Pinyin: Zhè fú zìhuà de zuòzhě shì Qí Báishí, shì guóbǎo jí de wénwù.
    * English: The artist of this piece is Qi Baishi; it is a national treasure-level cultural relic.
    * Analysis: This shows the highest level of valuation for a **字画**, connecting it to a famous artist and its status as a cultural treasure.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **False Friend: "Artwork" vs. "字画"**: While a **字画** is a type of "artwork" (艺术品, yìshùpǐn), do not use **字画** to refer to other types of art. A Picasso oil painting or a Rodin sculpture is an 艺术品, not a **字画**. **字画** specifically refers to the traditional Chinese medium of brush and ink on paper or silk.
  * **Not just "a picture with words"**: A beginner might see the text on a scroll as a simple description or signature. This is a fundamental misunderstanding. The calligraphy is a co-star, not a supporting actor. Its artistic merit is evaluated on its own and as part of the whole composition.
  * **Incorrect Measure Word**: The correct measure word is **幅 (fú)**. Saying "一个字画 (yī ge zìhuà)" is a common beginner mistake and sounds unnatural. Always use "一幅字画 (yī fú zìhuà)".
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[书法]] (shūfǎ) - Calligraphy; the art of writing characters. This is the "字" component of **字画**.
  * [[国画]] (guóhuà) - "National painting"; the general term for traditional Chinese painting. This is the "画" component of **字画**.
  * [[山水画]] (shānshuǐhuà) - Landscape painting (lit. "mountain-water painting"), one of the most important genres of 国画.
  * [[文房四宝]] (wénfáng sìbǎo) - The Four Treasures of the Study: the essential tools (brush, ink, paper, inkstone) used to create **字画**.
  * [[卷轴]] (juànzhóu) - A scroll; the classic format for mounting, viewing, and storing a **字画**.
  * [[笔墨]] (bǐmò) - "Brush and ink." This term refers not just to the tools but to the complex techniques and aesthetic quality of the brushwork itself.
  * [[艺术品]] (yìshùpǐn) - Artwork; a much broader, general term that includes **字画** as one of its many categories.
  * [[收藏]] (shōucáng) - To collect; collection. A verb frequently used in the context of acquiring **字画**.
  * [[名家]] (míngjiā) - A famous master or renowned expert, often used to describe a celebrated painter or calligrapher.
  * [[意境]] (yìjìng) - Artistic mood; ambiance; a profound aesthetic quality that a great **字画** is expected to possess.