Gongbi is the traditional Chinese painting technique that uses fine outlines and carefully applied layers of opaque color. Its name is commonly translated as “meticulous” or “detailed” brushwork.
Artists build a gongbi image through controlled drawing, repeated outlining, and thin washes or layers of pigment. The technique requires precise brushes and patient preparation, especially when depicting feathers, textiles, plants, figures, or architectural details. Mineral pigments and ink may be used together.
Gongbi became important in court painting, particularly during the Tang dynasty, and remained influential in later Chinese art. Subjects include figures, religious scenes, flowers, birds, animals, and narrative illustrations. The style can be highly realistic, but its careful detail is organized by conventions of composition and symbolism.
Gongbi is often contrasted with xieyi, or “freehand” expressive painting, which uses broader and more suggestive brushwork. Shan shui identifies a landscape subject or tradition, while gongbi primarily describes a meticulous method of execution.