kōroku 鉤勒

Ch: goule. Also written 鈎勒 or 勾勒 and called sōroku 雙鉤. One of the two primary techniques of Chinese ink painting. The other is called *mokkotsu 没骨. The kōroku technique defines an object by the use of a thin outline, then adding color. This technique is commonly used for paintings of flowers and grass. First used in China during the 10th century by Huang Quan (Jp: Kō Sen 黄筌; 903-68). In Japan the technique was in use by the 15th century.