Ni Yuanlu

Author: Li Tinghua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: Ni Yuanlu (1593-1644), styled Ruyu, styled Hongbao, was a native of Shangyu, Zhejiang, and a renowned calligrapher and painter of the Ming Dynasty. He passed the imperial examination in the second year of the Tianqi reign (1621) and rose to become the Minister of Revenue and Minister of Rites. In the late Chongzhen era, when Li Zicheng captured the capital and committed suicide, the Prince of Fuzhou posthumously honored him as Wen Zheng, and the Qing Dynasty posthumously honored him as Wen Zhen. In the seventh year of the Tianqi reign (1627), he served as the chief examiner for the Jiangxi provincial examination. At that time, the eunuch Wei Zhongxian monopolized imperial power, corrupting the moral standards, and Yuanlu composed an examination question to mock him. After Emperor Sizong ascended the throne and executed Wei Zhongxian, Yuanlu narrowly escaped disaster.
Ni Yuanlu was skilled in both calligraphy and painting. His calligraphy was influenced by Yan Zhenqing. Wu Desui of the Qing Dynasty praised in Chu Yue Lou Lun Shu Bu Si (Random Notes on Calligraphy from Chu Yue Tower): "Among the Ming calligraphers who emulated Master Lu, none surpassed Ni Wen Gong." His calligraphy deeply embodies the robust and vigorous brushwork of Master Lu, yet it is even more sharp and pointed. The structure tends toward flat squares, with a leaning and asymmetrical style, using danger to imply correctness, and his style is extraordinary, resilient, and indomitable, forming a unique style in the late Ming Dynasty. His running and cursive scripts are characterized by ancient and vigorous brushwork, dynamic and unconventional structures, dense word spacing, and spacious line spacing, emphasizing rhythmic variations. His calligraphy excels in spirit and bone. Qin Zuyong said in Tong Yin Lun Hua (Discussions on Painting from Tong Yin): "Ni Yuanlu's calligraphy is ethereal and divine, with his running and cursive scripts being particularly transcendent." Kang Youwei once remarked: "No Ming calligrapher was unable to write running script, and Ni Hongbao's new and unconventional styles were especially numerous." His surviving works include A Dance of Cranes Scroll, Running Script Poem Axis, and Poem of Jinshan Axis. He also wrote Eryi Nei Wai Yi (Inner and Outer Etiquette of Eryi) and Ni Wen Zhen Ji (Collected Works of Ni Wen Zhen).