From the 1920s to the 1940s

the image of beasts in the works of Chinese painters at the beginning of the 20th century quickly formed a "new theme" of Chinese painting with a reconciliation of the old and the new

which not only continued the theme of ancient auspicious signs

but also satisfied the modern visual experience. It has perfect schema characteristics and is one of the special cases of "modernization" of traditional Chinese painting themes. This article discusses this phenomenon from the following aspects: the mutual absorption of ancient traditional themes and the image of "lion awakening"

the exploration of painting practice by upper-class literati artists to lead the new trend

the formation of concentrated growth of social demand

and the trading in calligraphy and painting markets.