Selected Calligraphy Works by Famous Artists of the Ming and Qing Dynasties -- Ming Dong Qichang, Running Script Scroll

Author: Jin Nong (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Jin Nong (1687-1763) was a renowned painter of the Qing Dynasty. His courtesy name was Shoumen, and his sobriquet was Dongxin. He had many aliases, including: Jin Niuniu, Lao Ding, Guquan, Zhuxuan, Qujiang Wai Shi, Jimei Zhu, Lianshen Jushi, Longke, Chi Chun Weng, Shou Dao Shi, Jin Jijin, Sufala Jisufala (in Buddhist scriptures, "Sufala" is the Chinese character "Jin," and Sufala Jisufala means Jin Jijin), Xin Ershiliu Lang, Xiantan Suhua Ren, Jin Niuniu Huashang Huiyi Lao, and Baer Yan Tian Fu Rongzhen, etc. He was originally from Renhé, Zhejiang (now Hangzhou) and lived in Yangzhou for a long time. He never held any official position in his life. He loved traveling and had "" (his footsteps covered half the world). He was fond of oddities and learning, skilled in poetry, prose, and calligraphy. His poetry and prose were ancient and unique, and he was also good at appraising antiques. His calligraphy created a flat brush style, combining the forms of regular script and clerical script, known as "Lishu." He collected over a thousand volumes of inscriptions and stone carvings. In the first year of the Qianlong reign (1736 AD), he was recommended for the position of Bixue Hongci but declined. He only started painting at the age of fifty-three. His paintings had strange and ancient shapes, and he was good at using light ink and dry brush to create small flower pieces. He first painted bamboo, then horses, Buddhist figures, and plum blossoms, which he made uniquely, becoming one of the "Eight of Yangzhou." His representative works include: "Dongse Tuhua Tu," "Kong Gan Ruosa Tu," "Lamei Chuanzhu Tu," "Yudie Qingbiao Tu," "Tie Xuan Shuahua Tu," "Pusa Miao Xiang Tu," and "Qiongzi Sishang Tu," etc. His writings include "Dongxin Shicao," "Dongxin Suibiji," "Dongxin Huamei Titu," "Dongxin Huama Ji," and "Dongxin Zazu," etc. This book is Jin Nong's rendition of the "Han Xiyue Huashan Miao Bei." Jin Nong's calligraphy excels in epigraphical studies, especially in clerical script, with a high and ancient style, forming its own unique style. His brushwork completely reverses the habits of clerical script calligraphers from the Tang and Song dynasties, truly capturing the essence of the Han people.