Chen was born in Zhuji, Zhejiang province in 1598, during the Ming dynasty. His courtesy name was Zhanghou (章侯), and his pseudonyms were Laolian (老莲), Fuchi (弗迟), Yunmenseng (云门僧), Huichi (悔迟), Chiheshang (迟和尚) and Huiseng (悔僧).^[1] He once trained under Lan Ying, and was skilled in painting peculiar human figures, landscapes, flower-and-bird. He utilized plump, profound brushwork and precise color, creating a unique style. He always painted illustrations and made tapestry portraits. His two masterpieces, Shui Hu Ye Zi (水浒叶子) and Bo Gu Ye Zi, were the rare examples among the Ming and the Qing dynasties. He was very famous at that time, called "Chen in South and Cui in North", together with Cui Zizhong. He also was skilled in calligraphy, poetry and prose.

At the age of 9, Chen's father died, but his uncle ensured his education. In 1645, he passed the government examinations, receiving official status, only to flee from the advancing Manchus. In 1646, he became a Buddhist monk; although he struggled in the sometimes conflicting ideals of Buddhist retirement and Confucian government service.^[2]

His works are kept in museums and galleries all over the world including these in the United States:

• Returning Home Honolulu Museum of Art
• Flowers & Bird (Xi Shang Mei Shao) Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Immortals Celebrating a Birthday Indianapolis Museum of Art
• Lady Xuanwen Jun Giving Instructions on the Classics Cleveland Museum of Art
• Master Laozi on the Back of Ox Cleveland Museum of Art
• The Mountain of the Five Cataracts Cleveland Museum of Art
• The Dragon King Revering the Buddha Freer Gallery of Art

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  Appreciating Plums, Guangdong Museum
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  Tao Yuanming holding Lingzhi
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  An Elegant Gathering, Shanghai Museum
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  Drinking Wine in the Garden, Shanghai Museum
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  Landscape of Pine Valley, Shanghai Museum
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  Tao Yuanming, Honolulu Museum of Art
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  Bodhisattva Guanyin in the Form of the Buddha-Mother. Dated 1620, Ming dynasty. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

• List of Chinese painters
• Chinese painting

Notes edit

• Cihai bianji weiyuanhui (辞海编辑委员会). Cihai (辞海). Shanghai: Shanghai cishu chubanshe (上海辞书出版社), 1979.
• Hummel, Arthur W. Sr., ed. (1943). "Ch'ên Hung-shou" . Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period. United States Government Printing Office.

• Chen Hongshou and his Painting Gallery at China Online Museum