Chou Ch'en (ca. 1460-after 1535)

    Chou Ch'en, a native of Soochow, studied landscape painting from Ch'en Hsien (1405-1496), achieving the methods of Sung (960-1279) painters, particularly the styles of Li Ch'eng (919-967), Kuo Hsi (ca. 1001-1090), Ma Yuan (fl. 1189-1225), and Hsia Kuei (fl. 1180-1124). He also excelled at figures with an archaic yet unusual style that is detailed yet free. His two most outstanding students were T'ang Yin (1470-1523) and Ch'iu Ying (ca. 1494-1552).