Ming Chen Jiru's "Wine and Wine"

Author: Shanghai Shuhua Publishing House
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Chen Jieru (1558—1639), styled Zhongchun, also known as Meigong, styled Mige, was a native of Huating (now Songjiang, Shanghai). From a young age, he was exceptionally talented in writing and was highly regarded by Xu Jie, a prominent scholar in his home region. As a young man, he studied alongside Dong Qichang and gained fame. At the age of twenty-nine, he burned all his Confucian robes and settled in a cottage on the east side of Kunshan Mountain, later retiring to live in Dongxushan. He devoted his life to studying and writing, mastering the classics and compiling books. He excelled in poetry and prose, even in short verses, which were full of elegance. His calligraphy was skillful, capturing the essence of Su Shi and Mi Fu. Chen Jieru's achievements in literature were highly esteemed by his contemporaries. Renowned scholars from the Sanwu region competed to be his friend, and Huang Daozhou once wrote in a memorial to the emperor: "His aspirations were noble, his knowledge vast, yet none could match Chen Jieru." This piece is almost entirely executed with the central brushstroke, its force penetrating the paper. His heart moved the wrist, and his hand turned the brush, allowing for such unrestrained expression. His style is elegant and refined, following the principles of the Jin and Song dynasties; it is profound and simple, embodying Su Shi's "dignified and composed brushwork." This album particularly captures the momentum of Mi Fu's calligraphy, with dynamic fluctuations and the divine spirit of "composed and soaring" attributed to Mi Changfu. The entire piece is imbued with vitality and a cohesive essence. Its profound foundation and transcendent charm make it a rare and exquisite work.