Wen Huiming's Paintings

Author: Wang Jin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: A Legendary Life, Timeless Paintings, Captivating Critiques!
The ancients often sighed, "After brilliance, it returns to simplicity." We might think of the tension and splendor of others' lives. Even Tang Yin, whose spring flowers were renowned, poetic elegance, dazzling fireworks, and meteoric rise could not match Zheng Ming's calmness and detachment. Zheng Ming's charm, whether as a natural individual or as a mysterious figure in art, lies precisely in this composure.
Wen Zhengming, originally from Changzhou, was initially named Bi, but went by his courtesy name Zhengzhong, and later took the sobriquet Hengshan. His father, Lin, was the magistrate of Wenzhou. His uncle, Shen, was the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief. When Lin passed away, the officials and people of Wenzhou pooled a thousand taels of silver as a funeral gift. At sixteen, Zheng Ming refused to accept it. The officials and people then built a "Refusal of Gold Pavilion" to honor the former magistrate He Wenyuan and record the event.
As a child, Zheng Ming was considered dull, but as he grew older, he became exceptionally talented. He studied literature with Wu Kuan, calligraphy with Li Yingzhen, and painting with Shen Zhou—all of whom were his father's friends. He also engaged in close study with Zhu Yunming, Tang Yin, Xu Zhengqing, and others, gaining increasing fame. His character was gentle yet principled. When the Governor of the Circuit, Yu Jian, wanted to give him gold, pointing to his blue robe and asking, "Are you so poor?" Zheng Ming pretended not to understand and replied, "It got ruined in the rain." Yu Jian then dared not mention giving him gold. The Prince of Ning, Chen Hao, admired his reputation and sent letters and gifts to invite him, but Zheng Ming declined on the grounds of illness.
In the late Zhengde era, the Governor of the Circuit, Li Chongsi, recommended him, and coincidentally, Zheng Ming was also taking the civil service examination at the Ministry of Personnel. He was appointed as a Court Attendant in the Hanlin Academy. When Emperor Shizong ascended the throne, he was involved in compiling the Wuzong Shilu and attended imperial lectures, receiving annual imperial gifts alongside other literary officials. However, at that time, the imperial examinations were highly valued, and Zheng Ming felt disatisfied, requesting leave from office year after year.
Earlier, when Lin served as the magistrate of Wenzhou, he recognized Zhang Cheng among his students. After Zhang gained power, he persuaded Zheng Ming to align with him, but Zheng Ming refused. When Yang Yiqing was summoned to assist in governance, Zheng Ming arrived last. Yang Yiqing urgently said to him, "Do you not know that your father was a friend of mine?" Zheng Ming replied earnestly, "My father abandoned me over thirty years ago, and I dare not forget even a single word he wrote, but I truly do not know that you were his friend." Yang Yiqing was embarrassed and soon conspired with Zhang Cheng to transfer Zheng Ming to a different post. Zheng Ming intensified his requests to resign, and thus was granted retirement.
People from all over the country sought his poems, calligraphy, and paintings, yet wealthy individuals found it difficult to obtain even a single sheet from him, especially from the royal family and officials, whom he refused to serve, saying, "This is forbidden by law." The Princes Zhou and Hu, who sent him treasures as gifts, had them returned unopened. Foreign envoys passing through Wuzhen would kowtow respectfully in the streets, regretting their inability to meet him. His writings spread far and wide, and many of his disciples produced forgeries, which Zheng Ming did not prohibit.
Zheng Ming passed away in the 38th year of the Jiajing era, at the age of ninety. His eldest son, Peng, styled Shoucheng, was a Confucian scholar at the Imperial Academy. His second son, Jia, styled Xiucheng, was the head teacher of Hua Prefecture. Both excelled in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving, carrying on the family legacy. Peng's grandson, Zhenmeng, also had his own biography.
In Wuzhong, since Wu Kuan and Wang Ao led the literary circles in the Hanlin Academy, the famous scholars Shen Zhou, Zhu Yunming, and others competed alongside them, making the literary scene flourish. Wen Zhengming, along with Cai Yu, Huang Shengzeng, Yuan CW, and the brothers, emerged later. Yet, Zheng Ming dominated the elegant literary tradition for decades, and those who associated with him—Wang Chong, Lu Shidao, Chen Daofu, Wang Guxiang, Peng Nian, Zhou Tianqiu, Qian Gu—were all renowned for their literary talents.