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[Gu] Kaizhi was widely learned and possessed great talent. His painting was also supreme. The popular saying describes him as having three perfections: perfection in painting, perfection in foolishness, and perfection in talent. At the time, Xie An recognized his talent, claiming that since the birth of humanity, there had been no one like him. Whenever Kaizhi painted a portrait, he might not dot the pupils of the eyes for several years. When asked the reason, he replied: "The beauty or ugliness of the four limbs has no connection to the spirit. The true art of capturing the likeness and spirit resides exactly in those pupils."

Once, he painted a portrait of Pei Kai and added three hairs on the cheek; the viewers felt it captured a spirit of superior vitality. He also painted a portrait of Xie Kun and placed him inside a rock cave, saying: "This gentleman is best suited to be placed among hills and valleys." He wished to paint Yin Zhongkan, but as Zhongkan had an eye ailment, he firmly declined. Kaizhi said: "Your Excellency, it is precisely for the sake of the eyes. If I paint the pupils with a light touch feibai flying white brush technique, and sweep them over as if by light clouds veiling the moon, would that not be beautiful?" Zhongkan then complied. Once, at the Waguan Temple...