1.
the four classical arts of the East Asian scholar
A four-character compound referring to the four traditional accomplishments of an educated person in classical East Asian culture: playing the 琴 (zither/koto), the board game 棋 (Go), 書 (calligraphy), and 画 (painting).
琴棋書画は文人のたしなみだった。
The four classical arts were the accomplishments of a man of letters.
江戸時代の知識人は琴棋書画を修めた。
Intellectuals of the Edo period mastered the four classical arts.
中国文化に由来する琴棋書画は、日本の士大夫階級にも広く受け入れられた。
The four classical arts, originating in Chinese culture, were also widely accepted by the Japanese scholar-gentry.
A literary four-character idiom (四字熟語) imported from classical Chinese tradition. Each character names one of the four arts: 琴 (stringed instrument), 棋 (Go), 書 (calligraphy), 画 (painting).
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
In premodern China and Japan, these four accomplishments were considered essential for a cultivated person, especially scholar-officials and members of the literati class. The term still appears in writing about traditional arts, museum descriptions, and the tea ceremony world.
REGISTER:
Literary and formal. Mostly encountered in writing about classical culture, art history, or traditional aesthetics rather than everyday speech.