Zheng Banqiao's Poems, Calligraphy, and Paintings (2 volumes)

Author: Zheng Banqiao (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Zheng Banqiao (1693—1765) was a distinguished painter, calligrapher, and literary figure of the Qing Dynasty. His name was Xie, styled Kuerou, and known by the pseudonym Banqiao. He was from Xinghua, Jiangsu. Born into a scholarly family, he devoted himself to poetry and calligraphy from a young age. At the age of twenty-four, he passed the county-level examination and later, in the tenth year of the Yongzheng reign (1732), passed the provincial examination. In the first year of the Qianlong reign (1736), he became a jinshi. He served as a county magistrate in Fanxian and Weixian, Shandong, for twelve years, and later settled in Yangzhou in his later years. His poetry, prose, calligraphy, and painting were unique and were later praised as the "Three Perfections." His works were highly sought after during his lifetime, with critics describing them as "exquisite leaves and sparse flowers revealing artistic charm" and "like snow pines and wind firs, standing out gracefully beyond the mire." Among the renowned "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou," Zheng Banqiao held the highest historical status and had the most profound influence. This book combines his poetry, prose, calligraphy, and paintings, presenting his unique artistic style and unparalleled achievements. The literary works are based on the edition of the "Complete Works of Zheng Banqiao" published by Zhujijiu Shuju and preserved by the Weixian Local Gazetteer Office, supplemented by materials from the "Correspondence of Zheng Banqiao" published by Datong Bookstore and other sources. The text has been punctuated and collated, with missing parts in the original text marked with □. The calligraphy and paintings were selected from collections of the Chinese History Museum, Capital Museum, Central Academy of Arts and Design, Palace Museum, Yanhuang Art Museum, Yangzhou Museum, Guangdong Museum, Nanjing Museum, Shanghai Museum, and Weifang Museum. The "Self-Portrait of Banqiao" (ink rubbing now preserved in the Palace Museum) and the "Banqiao's Preface" (ink rubbing now in the possession of Xu Pingyu) were placed at the beginning of the volume as a substitute for a preface.