Zheng Xianping: A Critical Biography -- A Series of Critical Biographies of Chinese Thinkers

Author: Wang Tongshu
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Features: This book provides a detailed account of the family background, life, and artistic achievements in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving of the renowned artist Zheng Xie from the early Qing Dynasty. It places Zheng Xie within the framework of a "thinker" and examines his life beliefs of "angering no one" and "being not easily confused," his naturalist concepts of equality among all things and between nature and self, and the budding modern humanistic thought of "the people are my brothers." It also explores his social philosophy of following the way of nature, his awareness of respecting both merchants and artisans, the mutual benefit between commerce and art, and his continuous discovery and summarization of dialectical artistic creation principles. Additionally, it highlights his profound and widespread influence on the unique artistic personality and the fleeting beauty of women. The insights are novel, the arguments are dialectical and vivid, and the narrative is engaging.