← Explore on the interactive map

Wen Zhengming

Type Figure Region China Time 1470–1559 Also known as Wen Bi、Zhengzhong、Hengshan

Wen Zhengming (originally Bi, 28 Nov 1470 – 28 Mar 1559), courtesy name Zhengming, later known by his courtesy name and also styled Zhengzhong, sobri…

Timeline

  1. 1470–1500Suzhou · Suzhou PrefectureBorn in Changzhou. Around the second year of Hongzhi (1489) he studied under Shen Zhou, also learning poetry, prose, calligraphy, and painting. He subsequently failed the Nanjing provincial examinations several times and turned to devote himself to art.
  2. 1501–1522Suzhou · Suzhou PrefectureDuring the Zhengde era he socialized through painting and calligraphy in Suzhou, exchanging verses with Tang Yin, Zhu Yunming, and others. He failed the provincial examination nine times in all, and in the seventh year of Zhengde he declined an invitation from the Prince of Ning, Zhu Chenhao.
  3. 1523–1559Suzhou · Suzhou PrefectureIn the second year of Jiajing (1523) he was recommended by Li Chongsi and others and appointed Erudite of the Hanlin Academy, serving about three years before returning to Suzhou. In later years his painting, calligraphy, and disciples flourished, and he succeeded Shen Zhou as leader of the Wu School. On the twentieth day of the second month of the thirty-eighth year of Jiajing he died at eighty-eight (nominal age ninety) while writing an unfinished epitaph.

Sources