Chinese painting has a long history and many great painters have emerged. In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, six painters became famous for their landscape paintings, known as the "Six Artists of the Early Qing Dynasty": Wang Shimin, Wang Jian, Wang Ji, Wang Yuanqi, Wu Li, and Yun Shouping. In the history of Chinese art, they are regarded as the painting leaders after Dong Qichang.
Among these six, Wu Li's identity and experience are quite legendary. The history of Chinese art is full of religious figures involved in painting and calligraphy, as exemplified by the Tang Dynasty monk Huai Su. Wu, however, was a Catholic priest, a rare figure in the history of Chinese art.
Wu Li was born in 1631 or 1632 as a native of Changshu, Jiangsu Province. His ancestors had been officials in the Ming Dynasty, but by his generation, that dynasty had fallen into decline. He lived a hard life as a teenager but tried hard to study, hoping to make something of himself. However, in 1644, the Qing army invaded Shanhaiguan, which made the young Wu Li very disappointed and discouraged his idea of joining the imperial examinations to become an official.
Nevertheless, his will to learn did not change, according to the book "Wu Yushan Chronology" by the famous historian Chen Yuan, Wu Li "learned Confucianism from Chen Hu and poetry from Qian Qianyi at the age of about 20, and looked at the collection of paintings of Wang Shimin and Tang Yuzhao throughout his 30s; he traveled to the capital at the age of 40."
Although Wu Li was only an ordinary man, his desire to learn allowed him to roam around the cultural circles of China at the time and started his career as a painter.
The famous paintings he created, such as "A Sunny View of Hengshan", "The Spring Scenery of the Lake", "Early Snow", "Pipaxing", "Wandering in Forest under Autumn Moon", "Evening Bell of Autumn Temple", " The Mountain Village" and "Imitation of Pine and Snow Immortal Residence", have become heirlooms and precious collections by the National Palace Museum, Shanghai Museum and so on.
Wu's paintings were widely praised in the Qing Dynasty. Wang Shigu, who was also one of the six artists of the early Qing Dynasty, pointed out that "his paintings were at the peak of the Song and Yuan dynasties".
Wu lived at a time when the Jesuits were entering China when Western learning was being introduced to the East and middle school was being spread to the West. He had many dealings with the western missionaries of that time and soon accepted the Christian faith, taking the religious name Simon. In 1681, the Belgian priest Berkeley planned to return to Rome to report to the Pope on his religious affairs, wanting to bring along Chinese believers to let them see the world. Wu Li was curious about the distant and exotic world and therefore decided to go.
Unfortunately, when he arrived in Macau, he suddenly fell ill and was unable to travel to Europe. It may be that his suffering inspired his passion for faith. He decided to join the Jesuits and made a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience to become a monk.
He then entered St. Paul's College to further his studies in theology, philosophy, etc. During this time, he absorbed the Western art of painting and further improved his painting skills. At the same time, while in Macau, he also composed the Samba Collection.
He became a "priest painter" in 1688 when the first Chinese Catholic bishop, Luo Wenzao, consecrated three Chinese priests, including Wu Li. In his later years, Wu Li pastored the Church in Jiangsu and contributed to the spread of the Gospel until 1718, when he rested in peace in Shanghai.
Hymn 386 in the "New Hymnal" currently in use in the Chinese Church was composed by Wu Li.
Below are the lyrics of "Hymn of Praise":
God had a plan of salvation before he created the heavens and the earth;
the will to judge the world is high in the heavens and points to the end times.
There was a man whose blood flowed like water and who suffered from injuries in all internal organs;
the wonders of the cross are poured out in the hearts of all nations.
The way to heaven is free and easy
while the devil's schemes lead people astray;
My mission is to follow Jesus, to worship Him, and follow Him step by step.
- Translated by Wylie Sun
中国绘画源远流长，涌现了不少伟大画家。而清朝初年，有六位画家以山水画闻名于世，被称为“清初六家”，他们是王时敏、王鉴、王翚、王原祁、吴历以及恽寿平。在中国艺术史上，他们被视为董其昌之后的画坛领袖。
在这六个人当中，吴历的身份与经历颇为传奇。中国艺术史上不乏宗教人士参与书画创作，像唐代僧人怀素就是典型。而吴历却是一名天主教神父，这在中国艺术史上是非常罕见的现象。
吴历生于1632年（一说1631年），是江苏常熟人。其祖上曾在明王朝为官。但到了他这一代，已经没落了。他青少年时代生活清苦，可却努力向学，希望能有一番作为。可是1644年，满清入关，这让年少的吴历非常失望，打消了考取功名的念头。
尽管如此，他学习的心志并未改变，据著名史学家陈垣陈垣所作《吴渔山年谱》一书考证，吴历“20岁左右学儒于陈瑚，学诗于钱谦益，30至40岁遍览王时敏、唐宇昭藏画，40岁交游于京师。”
虽然吴历只是一介布衣，可求学的心志让他得以在当时中国的文化圈中游走，并开启了他的绘画生涯。
他所创作的《横山晴蔼图》《湖天春色图》《早雪图》《琵琶行图卷》《秋林步月图》《秋寺晚钟图》《山村田舍图》《仿松雪仙居图》等名画，都成为传世之作，成为被故宫博物院、上海博物馆等等珍贵藏品。
吴历的画作在清代就得到了广泛赞誉，同为清初六家的王石谷指出“其画出入宋元，登峰造极 ”。
吴历生活的年代，正是耶稣会士入华，西学东渐与中学西传的历史时期。吴历与当时的传教士来往甚多，很多就接受了基督信仰，取教名西满（西门）。1681年，比利时神父柏应理要回到罗马，向教宗汇报教务。想带着中国信徒去见见世面。吴历对遥远的异域世界充满好奇，因而决定前往。
可是不幸的是，他到澳门时却突发疾病，未能前往欧洲。可能是患难激发了其信仰热情。他决定加入耶稣会，立下贫穷、贞洁、顺服的志愿，成为一名修道士。
随后，他进入圣保禄学院深造，学习神学、哲学等等知识，在此期间，他吸取西洋绘画艺术，进一步研习绘画水平。同时，在澳门期间，他还创作了《三巴集》。
1688年，中国天主教首任主教罗文藻祝圣吴历等三名中国神父，因而他成为一名“神父画家”。晚年的吴历在江苏一带牧养教会，为福音的传播做出了贡献，直到1718年在上海安息主怀。
而目前中国教会使用的《新编赞美诗》的386首《仰止歌》，就是吴历所创作的赞美诗。
附：《仰止歌》
未画开天始问基，
高悬判世指终期。
一人血注五伤尽，
万国心倾十架奇。
阊阖有梯通淡荡，
妖魔无术逞迷离。
仔肩好附耶稣后，
仰止山颠步步随。
明清时期基督徒故事——中国山水画大师吴历神父小传
Chinese painting has a long history and many great painters have emerged. In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, six painters became famous for their landscape paintings, known as the "Six Artists of the Early Qing Dynasty": Wang Shimin, Wang Jian, Wang Ji, Wang Yuanqi, Wu Li, and Yun Shouping. In the history of Chinese art, they are regarded as the painting leaders after Dong Qichang.
Among these six, Wu Li's identity and experience are quite legendary. The history of Chinese art is full of religious figures involved in painting and calligraphy, as exemplified by the Tang Dynasty monk Huai Su. Wu, however, was a Catholic priest, a rare figure in the history of Chinese art.
Wu Li was born in 1631 or 1632 as a native of Changshu, Jiangsu Province. His ancestors had been officials in the Ming Dynasty, but by his generation, that dynasty had fallen into decline. He lived a hard life as a teenager but tried hard to study, hoping to make something of himself. However, in 1644, the Qing army invaded Shanhaiguan, which made the young Wu Li very disappointed and discouraged his idea of joining the imperial examinations to become an official.
Nevertheless, his will to learn did not change, according to the book "Wu Yushan Chronology" by the famous historian Chen Yuan, Wu Li "learned Confucianism from Chen Hu and poetry from Qian Qianyi at the age of about 20, and looked at the collection of paintings of Wang Shimin and Tang Yuzhao throughout his 30s; he traveled to the capital at the age of 40."
Although Wu Li was only an ordinary man, his desire to learn allowed him to roam around the cultural circles of China at the time and started his career as a painter.
The famous paintings he created, such as "A Sunny View of Hengshan", "The Spring Scenery of the Lake", "Early Snow", "Pipaxing", "Wandering in Forest under Autumn Moon", "Evening Bell of Autumn Temple", " The Mountain Village" and "Imitation of Pine and Snow Immortal Residence", have become heirlooms and precious collections by the National Palace Museum, Shanghai Museum and so on.
Wu's paintings were widely praised in the Qing Dynasty. Wang Shigu, who was also one of the six artists of the early Qing Dynasty, pointed out that "his paintings were at the peak of the Song and Yuan dynasties".
Wu lived at a time when the Jesuits were entering China when Western learning was being introduced to the East and middle school was being spread to the West. He had many dealings with the western missionaries of that time and soon accepted the Christian faith, taking the religious name Simon. In 1681, the Belgian priest Berkeley planned to return to Rome to report to the Pope on his religious affairs, wanting to bring along Chinese believers to let them see the world. Wu Li was curious about the distant and exotic world and therefore decided to go.
Unfortunately, when he arrived in Macau, he suddenly fell ill and was unable to travel to Europe. It may be that his suffering inspired his passion for faith. He decided to join the Jesuits and made a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience to become a monk.
He then entered St. Paul's College to further his studies in theology, philosophy, etc. During this time, he absorbed the Western art of painting and further improved his painting skills. At the same time, while in Macau, he also composed the Samba Collection.
He became a "priest painter" in 1688 when the first Chinese Catholic bishop, Luo Wenzao, consecrated three Chinese priests, including Wu Li. In his later years, Wu Li pastored the Church in Jiangsu and contributed to the spread of the Gospel until 1718, when he rested in peace in Shanghai.
Hymn 386 in the "New Hymnal" currently in use in the Chinese Church was composed by Wu Li.
Below are the lyrics of "Hymn of Praise":
God had a plan of salvation before he created the heavens and the earth;
the will to judge the world is high in the heavens and points to the end times.
There was a man whose blood flowed like water and who suffered from injuries in all internal organs;
the wonders of the cross are poured out in the hearts of all nations.
The way to heaven is free and easy
while the devil's schemes lead people astray;
My mission is to follow Jesus, to worship Him, and follow Him step by step.
- Translated by Wylie Sun
A Short Biography of Father Wu Li, Master of Chinese Landscape Painting
