Wen Zhengming's "Thousand Characters"

Author: Wen Zhengming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Wen Zhengming initially learned calligraphy from Li Yingzhen (Wen Zhengming's father-in-law) and later extensively studied famous works from previous generations, excelling in seal script, clerical script, regular script, running script, and cursive script. He was particularly skilled in running script and small regular script, characterized by warmth, elegance, and strength, with strict adherence to rules yet lively expression. Though lacking grandeur, his works possessed the style of Jin and Tang Dynasty calligraphy, as well as his own distinctive style. His small regular script, modeled after the Jin and Tang Dynasties, aimed for strength and vigor. The strokes were graceful, with a gentle rhythm, earning him the title of "Ming Dynasty ."
Xie Zaihang of the Ming Dynasty praised Wen Zhengming's small regular script: "There is true regular script in his works, even in the transmission of Zhong and Wang's Letter to Ji Zhi, Leyi Lun, which still carries running script elements. It wasn't until the Tang Dynasty's Nine-Banded Palace, Dapota Pagoda, and other steles that the characters became strict and precise, yet the flaws of being too fat or too thin still persisted. It was only with Wen Zhengming of our dynasty (the Ming Dynasty) that the structure was taken to the extreme, with balanced spacing, proper positioning—like the Eight-Faced Guanyin, complete in form and appearance. In the realm of calligraphy, he was indeed a peerless figure."