Selections of calligraphy by famous masters of past generations -- Ming Wen Zhengming's calligraphy of "Thousand Characters" and "Biography of Zhang Yichuan"

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 Wits of Wuzhong." At the age of 54, he was recommended as a candidate for the imperial examination and appointed as a (attendant) in the Hanlin Academy, but resigned after three years. Skilled in running and cursive calligraphy, with the style of Zhi Yong; large characters imitate Huang Tingjian; particularly 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, lush 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 painting, orchids and bamboos, and figure painting. Highly regarded during 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 two generations of Wen family were both renowned masters. This book includes two of Wen Zhengming's running script works: one is "Thousand Characters," with a self-written inscription at the end of the scroll: "Written in the eighth month of the eighth year of the Jiajing era, on the fourth day of the eighth month, Zhengming, aged eighty-nine." The other is "A Brief Biography of Zhang Yichuan," with a self-inscription at the end of the scroll: "Written on the sixteenth day of the second month of the ninth year of the Jiajing era," the year after the former. According to his self-signed age, he was ninety years old. That year, the elderly Wen Zhengming passed away.