Fan Ch'i: A Master of Tranquility and Symbolism Fan Ch'i (1616-1694), born Jiangning, China, stands as one of the Eight Masters of Nanjing—a cohort of painters who profoundly shaped Qing dynasty landscape art. Despite the elusive details surrounding his birthdate and death year, Fan Ch'i’s legacy endures through his distinctive style, known as ‘Huigong,’ which championed simplicity and imbued scenes of nature with profound spiritual resonance. His artistic journey began amidst a burgeoning cultural milieu characterized by Confucian ideals and Buddhist contemplation—influences that would perm…