Joyous Fish, Chinese painting, 1962. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A Noble Character

Pan was a firm carrier of cultural heritage. In the first half of the 20th century, there came "a change in three thousand years in Chinese history" and he faced the challenges of modernity with a high degree of cultural consciousness, to rejuvenate the Chinese national spirit with his art and to re-boost the morale and lofty spirit of the Chinese people.

But also, he was a great innovator. He incorporated landscape techniques into the panoramic view of birds-and-flowers, and vibrant mountain flowers into the near landscape, for the creation of the momentous and magnificent format.