删繁就简三秋树

刪繁就簡三秋樹
shān fán jiù jiǎn sān qiū shù
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 strip away complexity like a tree in late autumn
  2. 2 Zheng Banqiao's artistic creed - prune the superfluous until only essentials remain

Examples

HSK 7-9
Xiě wénzhāng yào " shānfánjiùjiǎnsānqiūshù ", bié duīqì cízǎo.
Writing should 'strip away complexity like a late-autumn tree' - don't pile on ornaments.
HSK 7-9
Zhè wèi shèjìshī fèngxíng shānfánjiùjiǎnsānqiūshù de lǐniàn.
This designer follows the principle of 'strip away complexity like a late-autumn tree.'

Tips

history
Couplet by 郑板桥 (Qing dynasty): 删繁就简三秋树领异标新二月花. Zheng was one of the 扬州八怪 (Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou) - the couplet is a creed for both painting and calligraphy: pare like an autumn tree, innovate like a February bloom.
usage
三秋树 = a tree in the third month of autumn (深秋), bare of leaves - i.e. stripped down to its essential structure. Pairs with 二月花 (February flower) in the full couplet.

Stroke Order

shān
fán
jiù
jiǎn
sān
qiū
shù