Selected Calligraphy Works of Lin Zexu

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-03-01
Features: Lin Zexu (1785-1850), a Qing Dynasty statesman and calligrapher. His courtesy names were Yuanfu and Shaomu, and his posthumous name was Aicun Laoren. He was from Houguan, Fujian (now Fuzhou). In 1811, he passed the imperial examination and held various positions, including Governor of the Hedong River, Governor of Jiangsu, and Governor of Hubei and Hunan. In 1838, he proposed measures to ban opium smoking and achieved success in the Hubei and Hunan regions. He submitted a memorial to the Daoguang Emperor, strongly advocating for a ban on opium, and was appointed as the Imperial Commissioner to investigate and suppress opium in Guangdong. In June of the following year, he destroyed over 20,200 boxes of opium, totaling 2,376,254 jin, in Humen, Guangzhou. After the Opium War broke out in 1840, he was targeted by the surrenderist faction and exiled to Xinjiang. In 1845, he was reinstated and served as acting Governor of Shaanxi-Gansu, Governor of Shaanxi, and Governor of Yunnan and Guizhou. In 1849, he resigned due to illness and returned to his hometown. The following year, he was appointed as the Imperial Commissioner and Governor of Guangxi but died of illness en route in Chaozhou, Guangdong. He authored works such as "Lin Wenzhong Gong Zhengshu" and "Xin Ji Lu." Lin Zexu's calligraphy is known for its "small regular script with natural and harmonious couplets." His calligraphy skills are "specifically in the style of Ouyang," exhibiting the Ouyang style of "perfectly balanced on all sides and complete in all directions." His running script is robust and vigorous, dignified and solemn, while his cursive script is expansive, energetic, and fresh and flowing. This book selects Lin Zexu's regular script "Treatise on Family Governance by Master Zhu," small regular script "Sutra on the Pure Land of Amida," running script "Couplets for Brother Yuefang," and cursive script "Letter to Zhiyou" among others.