Wang Duo's Cursive Script Volume Classics. Cursive Script Volume

Author: Liu Canzhang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: Wang Duo (1592–1652), styled Juesi, also styled Juzhi, styled Songqiao, Shiqiao, Ningqiao, and Xueshan. Born in Shuanghuaili, Mengjin, Henan in the 20th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty. At the age of 14, he began studying; at 16, he entered the yanhui (local school); at 30, he passed the provincial examination; at the age of 31 in the second year of the Tianqi reign, he passed the imperial examination and became a Shujishi in the Hanlin Academy. In the 11th year of the Chongzhen reign, he served as Vice Minister of Rites and Academician of the Hanlin Academy, as well as a lecturer at the Imperial Academy and an instructor at the Imperial Academy. When the Hongguang regime was established, he joined the Grand Secretariat as the second deputy premier. The following year, he defected to the Qing Dynasty. In the third year of the Shunzhi reign, he retained his position as Vice Minister of Rites and concurrently served as Minister of Rites, overseeing the Hongwen Academy as Vice Chief Editor of the History of the Ming Dynasty. In the sixth year of the Shunzhi reign, he was appointed Vice Minister of Rites and concurrently served as Vice Chief Editor of the Veritable Records of Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty, and was promoted to Shao Bao in the same year. He passed away in his hometown in the ninth year of the Shunzhi reign and was posthumously given the title Wen'an. Wang Duo excelled in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, particularly in calligraphy. He was proficient in all calligraphic styles, with his cursive script being especially outstanding. This collection includes the essence of Wang Duo's cursive script, showcasing his calligraphic styles from different periods. Wang Duo's cursive script style combines the techniques of the "Two Wangs" (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi), incorporates the () methods of Tang Dynasty calligraphers, and absorbs the influences of Huang Tingjian and Mi Fu, creating a unique style that elevates cursive script to new heights and has influenced Chinese calligraphy for over four hundred years. Wang Duo's cursive script is grand and powerful, with a dynamic and vibrant rhythm that exudes strong competitiveness and shock force. His brushwork is extremely rich, primarily using the zhong duo (centered brush) technique, with eight directions of brushwork emerging. In circular movements, he specializes in returning the brush and making sharp turns, focusing on subtlety while enhancing the strength and vigor of the strokes.