Ming Dynasty Calligraphy: Masterpieces from the Palace Museum Collection

Author: Xiao Yanyi, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-12-01
Features: After the peasant uprisings during the late Yuan Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty fell, and Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne in Nanjing in 1368, becoming the Ming Taizu. Chinese history entered a period of over 270 years known as the Ming Dynasty. Chinese calligraphy also entered a new stage of development. The Palace Museum in Beijing is one of the museums with the most extensive collection of Ming Dynasty calligraphy. Among these, the fewer surviving calligraphic works from the early Ming Dynasty are particularly distinctive features of the Palace Museum's collection. To comprehensively reflect the overall picture of Ming Dynasty calligraphy, this volume selects works with a focus on the "Taige Style" of the early Ming Dynasty and the typical works of representative calligraphers from each stage. Additionally, it strives to include as many works by Ming Dynasty calligraphers as possible to enrich readers' understanding of Ming Dynasty calligraphy. The volume includes over 100 works by more than 60 calligraphers, generally arranged according to the three stages of the evolution of Ming Dynasty calligraphy, encompassing representative calligraphers and renowned works from each stage. At the same time, to avoid the spread of misinformation, special attention is paid to the reliability of the selected works, all of which have been authenticated by the Ancient Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Appraisal Group without doubt. The works included in the Catalog of Ancient Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, Volume 2 serve as the selection criteria, aiming to provide readers with credible materials on Ming Dynasty calligraphy.