Artist: Chen Xianzhang (1428-1500)

Date: Ming (1368-1644)

Dimensions: Height 129.0 cm, Width 51.4 cm

Material: Ink on paper

• Object Type：
  • CALLIGRAPHY
• Location：
  • Chinese Calligraphy Gallery
• Tag：
  • hepta-syllable quatrain cursive script hanging scroll chen xianzhang ming ink paper

Chen Xianzhang (1428-1500), native to Xinhui in Guangdong, is also known by his zi (designated name) Gongfu and hao (literary name) Baishazi. He was a founder of the Neo-Confucianism that developed in the Ming dynasty. A juren (a successful candidate of the provincial civil-examination) in the 12^th year (1447) of the Zhengtong reign, Chen was appointed as an official in Hanlin Academy (a governmental institute on of higher learning). Adept in calligraphy, he was especially skilled in running and cursive scripts and renowned for writing with thatch brushes. This work is a quatrain by himself, rendered with expressive brushstrokes in boldly expansive structures.