Zhū Yǔmíng's Copy of Calligraphy by Tang and Song Dynasty Masters

Author: Xinglin Ed.
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Zhu Yunming (1460-1526), styled Xizhe, styled Zhishan due to a branch-shaped finger on his right hand. Known as "Zhu Jingzhao," he was from Changzhou (now Wuxian, Jiangsu). From a young age, he was exceptionally intelligent; at five, he could write one-foot-square characters, and by nine, he could compose poems. In the fifth year of the Hongzhi era (1429), he passed the provincial examination but failed the imperial examinations thereafter. In the ninth year of the Zhengde era (1514), he was appointed as the magistrate of Xingning County, Guangdong. In the first year of the Jiajing era (1522), he was transferred to the position of Tongpan of Yingtian Prefecture (now Nanjing) but soon returned to his hometown due to illness.
Zhu Yunming was skilled in poetry and prose, particularly renowned for his calligraphy, which gained fame throughout the land. He shared a close bond with Tang Yin, both living in a playful and unrestrained manner. Together with Tang Yin, Wen Zhengming, and Xu Zhengqing, he was known as one of the "Four Wits of Wu." He was also regarded as one of the representative calligraphers of the mid-Ming Dynasty, alongside Wen Zhengming and Wang Chong. His regular script in early years was meticulous, learning from Zhao Mengfu and Chu Suiliang, and directly tracing back to the "Two Wangs" (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi) through Ouyang Xun and Yu Shinan. His cursive script was influenced by Li Yong, Huang Tingjian, and Mi Fu, demonstrating profound skill. In his later years, he placed greater emphasis on variation, with a flamboyant and spirited style. People remarked: "Zhishan's cursive script is unparalleled in the world; how could the finest wine only dominate the Three Wu Regions!" The Ming Shan Zang stated: "Zhu Yunming's calligraphy draws from the Jin and Wei dynasties, becoming even more extraordinary and unrestrained in his later years, renowned in our dynasty."
In the Qing Dynasty, Zhu Hege's Linchí Xīnjiě noted: "Zhu Jingzhao's large cursive script deeply captures the essence of Wang Xizhi, yet occasionally reveals rustic charm; his small cursive script is abrupt yet harmonious, dense yet rich, embodying both elegance and distance, rivaling Chu Suiliang." Lincháng Sòngshì Rén Shū, preserved in the Shanghai Museum, is a bound album on paper, consisting of nine sheets, with a height of 24.2 cm and a width of 32.8 cm. It was created when the author was thirty-five, where he practiced calligraphy in running and regular script to imitate works by Tang and Song masters such as Ou Yangxun, Chu Suiliang, Su Shi, and Huang Tingjian. The imitations not only resemble the forms but also capture the spirits of the originals.
In the Qing Dynasty, Liang Zhangju, after viewing the Su Shi piece he practiced, sighed: [This imitation captures the spirit so well that it can be considered the genuine work of Su Shi.] He also remarked: [If you cover this up and call it Zhu Jingzhao's handwriting, who would believe it? Thus, one realizes this fame is no coincidence. To label Zhu Jingzhao solely as a master of cursive script would be to misjudge him through this album.]
Everyone knows Zhu Yunming's skill in cursive script, yet few realize that his regular script also impressed later generations, perhaps explaining why he was ranked first among the "Four Wits of Wu."