Ming Dynasty book theory

Author: Pan Yungao, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-11-01
Features: Some scholars often claim that Ming Dynasty calligraphy falls short of the achievements of the Jin, Tang, and even Song and Yuan dynasties, yet they are unaware that Ming Dynasty calligraphy and its theories of calligraphy possess a remarkable characteristic unprecedented in the past—namely, the pursuit of expressing individuality and aesthetic tastes. This was a product of that era. In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, with the development of the commodity economy, the rise of cities, and the formation of the urban class, the germs of capitalism began to emerge. This was particularly evident in the southeastern region of China. At the same time, as the soul of the times, philosophy gave rise to Wang Yangming's Mind School (Xin Xue). Its spread and influence encouraged scholars to break free from the constraints of traditional Confucianism and moral norms, giving rise to a trend of pursuing individual liberation and freedom. This was reflected in literature and art, naturally including calligraphy and its theories, giving rise to the new characteristics we now speak of, which were unprecedented. The author has elaborated on this in their book "Wang Yangming's Mind School and the Literary and Artistic Trends of the Ming and Qing Dynasties."