Selections of calligraphy by famous masters through the ages -- Three works of small regular script by Wen Zhengming of the Ming Dynasty

Author: Wen Zhengming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Wen Zhengming (1470-1559), Ming Dynasty painter and litterateur. Originally named Bi (also written as Bi), styled Zhengming, later styled Zhengzhong, and styled Hengshan Jushi. Born in Changzhou (now Wuxian, Jiangsu). Together with Zhu Yunming, Tang Yin, and Xu Zhengqing, he was known as one of the "Four Wuzhong Scholars." At the age of 54, he was recommended as a tribute student and tested by the Ministry of Personnel, serving as a court painter in the Hanlin Academy for three years before resigning. Skilled in running and cursive calligraphy, with the style of Zhi Yong; large characters imitate Huang Tingjian, especially adept at small regular script, and also proficient in clerical script. Master of landscape painting, learning from the Song and Yuan dynasties, with stable compositions, rich and elegant brushwork. Early works were meticulous, middle-aged works were more unrestrained, and late works combined both meticulousness and unrestraint. Also skilled in flower-and-bird, orchid-and-bamboo, and figure painting. Highly regarded in his time, he had many students, forming the "Wumen School." Together with Shen Zhou, Tang Yin, and Qiu Ying, he was known as one of the "Four Masters of the Ming Dynasty." Wen Zhengming's calligraphy covered all styles. His regular script followed Zhong Yao and Wang Xizhi; his cursive script learned from Huai Su; his large characters imitated Huang Tingjian; his running script resembled Wu Xing; his clerical script followed Zhong Yao; and his seal script drew from Yang Bing. Especially renowned for his running script and small regular script. His son Wen Peng was also skilled in painting and calligraphy, gaining recognition in the literary world. The father and son were both renowned masters. This book includes three of Wen Zhengming's running script works: one is "The Sayings of the Supreme Elder Lord on Constant Purity and Tranquility," written in July of the 16th year of the Jiajing era; the second is "Biography of Laozi," written in June of the 17th year of the Jiajing era, nearly a year apart. The third is "Preface to Pan Valley," written when he was 84 years old. At the end of the "Biography," Wen Zhengming appended a short note: "On the 19th day of the 6th month of the Jiajing era, I this biography for the Northern Mountain hermit, and now I am 69 years old. Ouyang Xiu once said that writing at a desk in summer could dispel heat and forget labor. But I, sweating and holding the brush, only felt it was tedious and hard. Perhaps Ouyang Xiu found joy in it himself. That afternoon, there was a light rain and it became slightly cooler, but the dim window made it difficult to write evenly from beginning to end, so I did not notice the onlookers' ridicule." At nearly 70, the old man was still holding a brush and writing small regular script in a dim window, showing the depth of his calligraphic skill, which was truly rare and precious.