Wang Duo's Cursive Script Scroll Collection: Eight Poems of Autumn

Author: Liu Canzhang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: Wang Duo (1592–1652), styled Juesi, also styled Juezhi, styled Songqiao, Shiqiao, Ningqiao, and Xueshan. Born in Shuanghuaili, Mengjin, Henan in the 20th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. At the age of 14, he began studying; at 16, he entered the yanhui (local school for imperial examinations); at 30, he passed the provincial examination; at the age of 31 in the second year of the Tianqi era, he passed the imperial examination and entered the Hanlin Academy as a Cishiji (a rank in the Hanlin Academy). In the 11th year of the Chongzhen era, he served as Vice Minister of Rites and Vice Academician of the Hanlin Academy, holding positions such as Lecturer at the Imperial Academy and Instructor at the Teaching Hall. When the Hongguang regime was established, he entered the Grand Secretariat as the second deputy premier. The following year, he surrendered to the Qing Dynasty. In the third year of the Shunzhi era, he retained his position as Vice Minister of Rites and concurrently served as Minister of Rites and Academician of the Hongwen Academy, acting as the vice president of the A Record of the Ming Dynasty. In the sixth year of the Shunzhi era, he was appointed as Vice Minister of Rites and vice president of the Veritable Records of Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty. That same year, he was promoted to Shao Bao (a high-ranking title). In the ninth year of the Shunzhi era, he died of illness in his hometown and was posthumously given the title Wen'an. Wang Duo excelled in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, particularly in calligraphy. He was proficient in all calligraphic styles, with his cursive script being the most outstanding. This series of works collects the essence of Wang Duo's cursive script, showcasing his calligraphic style across different periods. Wang Duo's cursive script blends the styles of the "Two Wangs" (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi), incorporates the techniques of Tang Dynasty calligraphers, and absorbs the stylistic elements of Huang Tingjian and Mi Fu, creating a unique style that elevates cursive script to new heights and has influenced Chinese calligraphy for over four hundred years. Wang Duo's cursive script is grand and powerful, with a dynamic and vibrant rhythm that exudes strong impact and. His brushwork is exceptionally rich, primarily using the zhong duo (vertical and horizontal strokes) technique, with eight directions of brushwork emerging from each stroke. In circular movements, he focuses on returning the brush and making sharp turns, emphasizing subtlety while also using sharp angles to enhance the strength and vitality of his lines.