Mixing Carmine	Lampblack	Indigo	Gamboge	Ocher	Blending Diverse Colors	Mixing with Ink	Preparing Silk with Alum	Setting Colors with Alum
			including Dark Green	including Iron-grey
			Deep Green	Russet
			Light Green	Sandalwood
			Pale Green	Verdant Green
				Old Red

End of Table of Contents

At the End of Volume Three of the Painting Manual

Various Methods for Applying Color

In the landscape section of the first collection of this Painting Manual, the various methods for applying color were already recorded at the beginning of that volume. However, this subsequent compilation focuses on flowers, plants, insects, and birds; for these subjects, the application of color is of even greater priority.

Why then is this section placed at the end of the volume? In previous manuals, each would first describe the origins and historical sequence, then the formulas and individual patterns, followed by complete compositions. Here, we conclude the entire work with color application to serve as the Ultimate Goal original: 旨歸 (zhigui); the essential point or final destination of a study for the beginner.

This is like what is said in the Classic of History: if one works with Catalpa Timber original: 梓材 (zicai); a reference to a chapter in the Book of Documents regarding the craftsmanship of a carpenter, having already put in the hard work of Cutting and Carving original: 斲斷 (zhuoduan), the final step is to apply the Mineral Pigments original: 丹雘 (danhuo); specifically red and green traditional paints. One proceeds from the rough smelting to the fine refining, and only then decorates the work with vermilion.

Color is also like the "charming smile and beautiful eyes" mentioned in the Lost Odes A reference to the Classic of Poetry, famously discussed in the Analects of Confucius. Only after possessing such graceful natural features can one add the adornment of magnificent colors. Historically, because the Odes...