Four Accomplishments

• Japanese: 四芸　(shigei), 琴棋書画 (kinki shoga)

The Four Accomplishments were the four pursuits, or arts, in which a Confucian gentleman was expected to be accomplished, in order to be cultured, and refined. They also represented aspects of ideal government.

The four include:

• Music, specifically the qin (or koto in Japan), representing harmony with the universe, and the ability of the government to inspire society to function in harmony
• Games of strategy, especially go, representing strategic skill, and the value of meritocracy in government.
• Calligraphy, reflecting respect for texts and records. One's moral character was also said to be reflected in one's handwriting.
• Painting, reflecting the ability to express wordless sentiments, and the value of the kind of knowledge that cannot be expressed in writing.

References

• Timon Screech, Obtaining Images, University of Hawaii (2012), 146.