Li Yaofu: A Pioneer of Chan Painting Li Yaofu (c. 1247–1317), a figure shrouded in relative obscurity compared to his contemporaries, stands as one of the most important artists working during the Yuan Dynasty—a period marked by cultural dynamism and artistic innovation following Mongol rule over China. Despite limited biographical details surviving from Chinese records, Li Yaofu’s legacy rests firmly on his singular contribution to Chan Buddhist painting, a genre that sought to embody the essence of Zen philosophy through visual representation. His work exemplifies a distinctive approach to…