Ch: sanpin. Lit. "three classes." Three classes of Chinese calligraphy and painting. In ascending order, the Capable Class nōhin 能品 (Ch: nengpin), the Marvelous Class myōhin 妙品 (Ch: miaopin) and the Divine Class shinpin 神品 (Ch: shenpin). Each class can be subdivided into three grades upper jō 上, middle chū 中, and lower ge 下. These three grades are also used to rank artists. The whole system thus is called the Three Classes and Nine Grades sanpin kyūtō 三品九等 (Ch: sanpin jiudeng). The sanpin probably are based on Six Dynasties classifications that were codified by the Tang calligraphy critic Zhang Huaiguan (Jp: Chō Kaikan 張懐瓘, active mid-8th century). Another category, the *ippin 逸品 (Untrammeled Class) usually is considered outside the sanpin.