“Instructions of the Yan Family”in Running Script (handscroll)－1

Dong Qichang was born in Huating (now Songjiang district in Shanghai). His courtesy name was Xuanzai and his literary names were Sibai and Xiangguangjushi. He passed the Imperial Exam in the Wanli Period of the Ming Dynasty and rose up to the position of President of Ministry of Rites (libushangshu) in Nanjing. Dong was a master of calligraphy and painting. For calligraphy, he started by imitating Yan Zhenqing’s style, then Yu Shinan’s and later Zhong You’s and Wang Xizhi’s. He also drew on the brushwork of Li Yong, Xu Hao, and Yang Ningshi. His calligraphy is to present a beautiful scene via straightforwardness and honesty, according to the calligrapher himself. Dong’s landscape painting, imitating Dong Yuan, Ju Ran, Huang Gongwang, and Ni Zan, emphasizes details and a balanced use of ink. His style features freshness, brightness, and gracefulness. Regarding painting theories, he promoted the theory of “Southern School vs. Northern School” and favored the “Southern School” as the legitimate source which “literati painting” originated from.