Zhao Mengfu's Running Script

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Publish Date: 1999-01-01
Features: Zhao Mengfu, styled Ziyang, was known as the "Pine Snow Taoist." During the reign of the World, he served as the Academician of the Jixian Academy. In the reign of Emperor Renzong, he was appointed as the Chief Scholar of the Hanlin Academy and the Duke of Honor, often referred to as "Zhao Chengzhi." After his death, he was posthumously honored as the Duke of Wei and posthumously titled Wenmin.
Zhao Mengfu was a man of profound knowledge and expertise, excelling in politics, economy, justice, literature, music, calligraphy, and painting. He was particularly skilled in calligraphy. The History of the Yuan Dynasty records: "Zhao Mengfu excelled in all calligraphic styles— Seal, Clerical, Cursive, Running, and Regular—surpassing all ancient masters, and thus earned a reputation as a calligrapher of national fame."
In his early years, he studied the calligraphy of Emperor Taizu (Zhao Kuangyin), and in his middle years, he learned from Zhong Yao. To master large characters, he later studied Li Yong and Liu Gongquan. His studies were extensive, and he acquired many ancient techniques. His calligraphic compositions were well-structured, with smooth and elegant brushwork, refined and vigorous in style, completely transforming the calligraphic style of the Song Dynasty. His mastery in copying ancient works was comparable to Mi Fu, who was renowned for his collection of ancient calligraphic styles. He was the leader of Yuan Dynasty calligraphy, synthesizing the ancient techniques of the Jin and Tang dynasties and mastering all calligraphic styles, particularly excelling in Running and Regular scripts.
Zhao Mengfu's Thirteen Annotations on the Orchid Pavilion Preface, Jue Wen Shu, and Poem of Repeated Peaks in Smoking River are among his masterpieces, where his brushwork was skillful, the rhythm harmonious, the structure graceful, and the overall composition rich in artistic charm.