The Shuilu ritual paintings (Chinese: 水陸畫; pinyin: Shuǐlù huà; lit: "Paintings of Water and Land") are a style of traditional Chinese painting based on Buddhist and Taoist divinities that are used during the eponymous Chinese Buddhist Shuilu Fahui ceremony where these figures are invoked. The paintings are mainly intricate portraits of deities, historical figures, and the contrasting lives of common people and tragedies, in an ornate style with rich use of vivid colors and patterns. The paintings can encompass a wide range of mediums, including scroll-painting, murals, and even sculptures.[1][2]
Despite their often mythological subject matter, the parts of the Shuilu ritual paintings that are dedicated to commoners show a realistic, often downtrodden and tragic view of their everyday lives, as part of the ritual to reflect on the suffering of the deceased.[1] The paintings preserve the intricacies of their respective eras' fashions and give a greater view of their cultural and spiritual landscape. The visual similarities in the portraits between the divine figures and traditional Chinese opera costumes also illuminate the mutual inspiration between the two art forms.[2]
The history of Shuilu ritual paintings can be traced back to the Three Kingdoms period, with other early mentions during the late Tang dynasty,[3] and became popular during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties as a part of the Buddhist Shuilu Fahui ritual to appease and enshrine spirits of the deceased. While the painting style has its origins in Buddhist ritual, the paintings also include Taoist and Ruist figures as reflections of local folk-religious culture.[1][2] Many of the best-preserved paintings are from the Ming and Qing dynasties, particularly in Shanxi and Hebei.[3]
In modern contemporary Chinese Buddhist practice, newly created Shuilu ritual paintings as well as prints of historical paintings are still used during the Shuilu Fahui ceremony and other related rituals to invoke and enshrine the divinities depicted.[4]
- ^ a b c Liu Zhongguo 刘忠国 (2011). "浅析中国的水陆画艺术". 现代装饰理论. 09: 91–93.
- ^ a b c 北京文物鉴赏编委会 (2005). 明清水陆画 Paintings for water-and-land service of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Beijing Art Photography Publishing. ISBN 9787805012896.
- ^ a b Xie Shengbao 谢生保 (2004). "甘肃河西于陆画简介----兼谈才陆法会的起源和发展". 丝绸之路. 01: 8–10.
- ^ Chan, Yiu Kwan (2024-11-02). "Popular Buddhist Ritual in Contemporary Hong Kong: Shuilu Fahui, a Buddhist Rite for Saving All Sentient Beings of Water and Land". The Open Buddhist University. Retrieved 2025-05-06.
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