The fantastic four monks

An ongoing exhibition at Beijing's Palace Museum showcases the works of Hongren, Kuncan, Bada Shanren and Shitao from the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Wang Kaihao reports.

They are considered some of the best painters among Buddhist monks in ancient China.

Hongren, Kuncan, Bada Shanren and Shitao from the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) are referred to as "the Four Monks" in Chinese fine-art history.