Zhu Da, often known by his studio name of Badashanren (‘man of the eight great mountains’), was one of China’s foremost ‘eccentric’ painters, famous for his brooding birds and wild-eyed fish.
Background
Born in Nanchang, he was descended from the sixteenth son of the Hongwu emperor, the founder of the Ming dynasty. At the time that he was preparing for the official examinations, in 1645, the Qing swept into Nanchang. Since he was known to be a descendant of the Ming founder, he had to flee the invading Manchus and take refuge in a Buddhist monastery in the mountains. This was mainly in order to save his own life by going into hiding, but it also had the advantage of permitting him to resist the hated Manchu stipulation that all men should assume the Manchu hairstyle of the shaven forehead and long pigtail, since, as a Buddhist monk, his entire head was shaven.
Career
At the time that he was preparing for the official examinations, in 1645, the Qing swept into Nanchang. Since he was known to be a descendant of the Ming founder, he had to flee the invading Manchus and take refuge in a Buddhist monastery in the mountains. In 1680, as a result of an unknown emotional crisis, perhaps a desire to leave the celibate life in order to marry, he burned his Buddhist robes. After a period of secular life in which he is known to have had a son, he entered a Daoist monastery where he lived for the rest of his life.
Religion
He saved his own life by going into hiding, but it also had the advantage of permitting him to resist the hated Manchu stipulation that all men should assume the Manchu hairstyle of the shaven forehead and long pigtail, since, as a Buddhist monk, his entire head was shaven. In 1680, as a result of an unknown emotional crisis, perhaps a desire to leave the celibate life in order to marry, he burned his Buddhist robes. After a period of secular life in which he is known to have had a son, he entered a Daoist monastery where he lived for the rest of his life. As a Daoist, he could continue to express his anti-Manchu feelings through his hairstyle, for Daoist priests let their hair grow long and wore it in a bun on the top of the head, in the Ming style.