Flowers in Yandang Mountain, 1963. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Inheritance of Conventions and Innovations

Pan believed that "those Chinese painters, who simply imitate works of ancient people those in the past without the slightest hint of innovation to bring glory on their ancestors, are purely silly descendants." All great accomplished painters in history broke through the set patterns of their predecessors and made innovations their responsibility.

Pan absorbed the strengths of other Chinese painters. He harnessed the essence of all these masters and established a style of his own, surpassing his predecessors.