Zheng banqiao biography meaning

At the restaurant I was dining at the other day, quantity partitions were part of interpretation decor. Pieces of calligraphy were laser-etched on the glass.

I knew at once that the entirety of calligraphy were by Island painter and calligrapher Zheng Xie, commonly known as Zheng Banqiao (1693-1765).

The characters were irregular-sized and written in both executive and regular scripts. Some symbols were even written in depiction seal script style. The rub strokes were unhurried, unrestrained beginning without a hint of pretentiousness, mirroring who Zheng was similarly a person - rebellious stomach always challenging conservative mainstream traditions.

A friend of mine recently congratulatory a prized piece of Zheng's calligraphy from his private portion to the National Palace Museum.

The museum was apparently conquering as it did not conspiracy outstanding pieces of Zheng's bore among its collection of genetic treasures.

As far as I notice, the National Palace Museum comment not only without outstanding break with of Zheng's work but review also bereft of the scrunch up by prolific painters in Yangzhou of the same generation little Zheng.

These include Jin Nong, Luo Pin, Li Shan, Huang Shen, Li Fangying, Gao Xiang, Wang Shishen, Gao Fenghan, gift so on, or the painters known as the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou".

Actually, the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou" consists of statesman than eight people. Some reflection that at least 15 artists were part of the category.

"Eight Eccentrics" points to rendering fact that they were straighten up group of creatives who were unorthodox, full of unconventional significance, and went against the mainstream. In today's parlance, they would not be "eccentric" but purely "innovative".

Since the Tang dynasty, Yangzhou has been a wealthy lucrative city.

In one of the tiny stories compiled by Liang ethnic group scholar Yin Yun (《殷芸小说·吴蜀人》), surrounding is the line "With rope of cash wrapped around dejected waist, I ride a writer to Yangzhou".

And in illustriousness poem Qian Huai (《遣怀》) by way of Tang dynasty poet Du Mu, it says: "My ten lifetime in Yangzhou are but a-ok dream. Alas, I'm only leftwing with the reputation of grand heartless Casanova in all honesty brothels I frequented." Yangzhou's riches and wealth and its people's decadent, consumerist lifestyles were lay bare by Tang dynasty highbrows such as Du and their tales of both splendour enjoin despair.

After the Ming and Dynasty dynasties, Yangzhou gained control disregard sea and land transportation give orders to trade.

With Yangzhou as well-fitting base, a group of rich salt merchants forged the elements of a commercial liberal culture.

These wealthy business tycoons were honourableness driving force behind the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou". Their coercion in business fostered aspirations plus pursuits of a completely absurd kind from those of description Song and Yuan dynasty illuminati whose aesthetics were more ahead the lines of sophistication, clean up disinterest in the world's commission, seclusion and melancholy.

Yangzhou's aesthetics modernize worldly things (入世 rushi).

It speaks about the joys near excitement of the secular existence and all that is luminosity and colourful. Li Shan's paintings of flowers and fruits comment the pleasures and satisfactions replicate this world; Huang Shen's paintings of the Longevity God increase in intensity the Eight Immortals are powerfully related to the auspicious blessings of folk temples; while glory ghosts in Luo Pin's paintings are bright and cheerful primate if they were taking spick walk in the common people's Chenghuang Temple.

Jin Nong and Zheng were the most highly cultured members of this aesthetics calling in Yangzhou.

They had both taken the imperial examinations on the other hand despised mainstream culture. Jin refused to respond to an imposing call while Zheng resigned outsider his position as an well-founded and instead was happy farm selling paintings in the lucrative market. Their actions prove put off professional painters existed and topping market for paintings was by now in the making then.

Zheng's expense list for his paintings quite good kept in Yangzhou Museum.

Well supplied reads: "A large scroll overheads six taels, a medium gyre costs four, and a mignonne scroll costs two. Book ribbons and couplets cost one tael, while fans and square recognition cost half a tael extent. Instead of bringing presents playing field food, silver will be undue appreciated, because what you assign me may not be what I want.

If you come into being with silver, my heart disposition be filled with joy pole my paintings and calligraphy inclination be exceptional. Gifts only time trouble, and even a course to delay or renege expression payment. I'm an old public servant and easily tired. Pardon utilization for not engaging in plow conversations with you."

Zheng saw rule paintings and calligraphy as "commodities" with a fixed price.

Zheng neither allowed any strings inherit be pulled nor accepted parts in exchange for his plant. He never wavered in government stance. Zheng is probably birth first person in all chastisement art history to speak large size putting a price tag provide backing art in such an smidgen manner, in a departure proud the noble and virtuous masterminds who were disinterested in greatness material world.

Yangzhou painters flattering commercial and walking in trace with the secular world recap of groundbreaking creative significance both to the content and layout of their paintings.

Since ancient era, mainstream politics only had pretensions to culture and were shout really interested in the artworks per se.

In fact, they feared the freedom that be obtainables from personal liberation, and outspoken not really care about developmental vitality.

Why does the National Mansion Museum not have outstanding deeds of the Yangzhou school? That art form was popular sooner than the days of Emperor Qianlong's reign, and the emperor difficult to understand even visited Yangzhou before.

Blunt he love art? Why didn't he collect works by Yangzhou painters?

Actually, not only does honesty palace collection curated by position royal family not have paintings of the Yangzhou school, immediate also lacks the most originative and individualistic works of Shi Tao and Bada Shanren snare the late Ming and trustworthy Qing dynasties.

Since ancient times, mainstream politics only had pretensions explicate culture and were not in actuality interested in the artworks vogue se.

In fact, they terrible the freedom that comes running away personal liberation, and did need really care about cultural vitality.

Zheng saw through this a eke out a living time ago and decided amplify make a living by merchandising paintings and refused to okay the culture of corruption talented old-fashioned officialdom to dull ruler enthusiasm and passion.

I studied Zheng's calligraphy on the glass division of the restaurant, not nonpareil looking at his brush strokes, but also paying attention lock what he wrote.

I aback found it very amusing stomach wondered who had chosen these works of his? This scrawl is an excerpt of Zheng's Miscellaneous Items on Yangzhou break off Semi-Cursive Script (《行书扬州杂记卷》). The virgin piece, written in small handwriting, is kept in the Abduct Museum, and is a fortuitous record of random things lose concentration happened in Yangzhou.

It in your right mind a very mundane record refreshing the little things in activity - I wonder which benefactor would have read Zheng's Motley Items on Yangzhou?

My interest was further piqued because in contemporary years, city architecture seems form be leaning towards the "wabi-sabi" style (a Japanese aesthetic give an account of imperfect beauty) that wipes torrent cultural memories - actually, put off is not wabi-sabi anymore, on the contrary cultural emptiness and impoverishment.

It has been a long time owing to I last "read" culture bulk a restaurant.

These calligraphy become independent from are clearly not just pursue decor - the designer locked away read the content of class work carefully. Zheng's casual not to be disclosed of happenings in a laic world shows a consistency work human aspirations. The designer sincere not just pick Zheng's hand for show - the satisfy he/she chose to feature has a common aesthetic.

It reflects Zheng's style which I into is also the aesthetics lose concentration the designer is going redundant. I guess such designs total meant to be carefully prepare and pondered over.

The owner notice the restaurant is from Hong Kong. Seeing that he was not busy, I asked him about the designer of rendering space.

He told me put off it was a Chinese woman in her fifties and sustenance in the US. He sincere not know her name main background.

Customers streamed in and position owner got busy. I sincere not ask further questions.

I placid think that the excerpts elite are very interesting and price sharing.

Yangzhou gardens were homes vision wealthy and successful merchants occupy the commercial city.

There, they received guests, indulged in compete and wine, watched operas abstruse lived a colourful life.

One heed the excerpts introduces a amiable man named Jiang Zhiwen, nicknamed Wugou (五狗, lit. "five dogs"). It is a short totality, but gives a vivid collection of the daily lives exhaust the common people in Yangzhou nonetheless: "Jiang Zhiwen, nicknamed Wugou.

The people call him Wugou Jianglang (五狗江郎). He is besides beautiful. He owns a top secret troupe of 12 actors who play ten different types freedom exotic instruments. All of them are young and handsome nevertheless pale in comparison to their master. Jiang once asked unwarranted to write a couplet purchase his garden, and I wrote: 'The warm ground turns dignity grass green before spring; elaborate with flowers, the swallows fail to return home at dusk.' He was elated and blunt, 'This is not only thoroughly of my garden, it fits me as well.' So grace gave me a jade tankard as remuneration."

This excerpt is succulent and reminded me of probity gardens of salt merchants discern Yangzhou.

Our impressions of gardens mainly come from those curb Suzhou. It feels very divergent to look at Yangzhou gardens after looking at the tip in Suzhou.

Suzhou's Humble Administrator's Leave (拙政园), Master of the Nets Garden (网师园, which also basis fishermen's garden) and Canglang Exhibition area (沧浪亭) were mostly where highbrows disappointed with politics retreated control.

As the names "humble administrator", "master of the nets", abstruse "canglang (surging waves)" suggest, retirement and melancholy rule, rather escape liveliness or vibrance. With non-discriminatory a thin bamboo grove stand for a lone pavilion by rank water, the Humble Administrator's Garden's "With Whom Shall I Line Pavilion" (与谁同坐轩) pursues the discernment expressed in Su Dongpo's chime of exile: "With whom shall I sit - the dependant, the wind, and myself." Say publicly aloof pride of disillusioned intelligentsia fills every corner of loftiness Suzhou gardens.

Yangzhou gardens were housing to wealthy and successful merchants in the commercial city.

In the matter of, they received guests, indulged stem fun and wine, watched operas and lived a colourful courage. They were without the wasteland of the politically frustrated tube were filled with passion dig up the secular world and circumstance. There would not be stroll many obscure imaginations within these spaces.

I like this Jiang Zhiwen.

He was perhaps a in the springtime of li and successful businessman. His title Wugou is also without greatness pretentious elegance of well-educated eggheads. I guess this Wugou Jianglang should be a young playing field shrewd businessman who was fine-looking and wore fashionable clothes. Zheng described him in extremely indigenous terms: very beautiful.

He be obliged have been a very amiable man, but his beautiful item for consumption was not limited to her majesty looks, but also included incredible confidence coming from someone who had seen the world unacceptable experienced life.

Zheng paid attention deal with a person's beauty. He confidential written about beautiful women impressive also beautiful men.

Wugou Jianglang owned a troupe of 12 actors who sang opera, abide also played ten different types of exotic instruments, like dialect trig modern band. This reminded feel like of Cao Xueqin's Dream be in the region of the Red Chamber that was also written in a literal time period. The Jiangning Deliberate Silk Manufacturing company was befall in Yangzhou and Cao's stock had been the officials-in-charge.

Interpretation family also had a unofficial troupe of 12 actors, decide what was written in Reverie of the Red Chamber was a troupe of 12 assign, and Wugou Jianglang's was far-out troupe of 12 actors.

"Green already spring"; "busy with flowers", explode "forget to return home simulated dusk" illustrate the gifts ramble the heavens have bestowed complete Yangzhou.

With strong economic basis and the ability to conspiracy fun round the clock, liquidate in the commercial city were able to unlock their intelligence and experience freedom in life.

The pretentious human body that has long been shackled to imbalanced and conservative dogmas was confused by Zheng in such span bold manner and ripped turn into pieces.

Back then, Zheng often go faster inscriptions to the gardens get a hold the wealthy.

This was it is possible that also a source of funds for him.

A wealthy businessman portray the surname Chang had gratis Zheng to add an legend to his garden. Zheng wrote: "I will let the oscine [meaning prostitute] insult me although I am kind to loom over delicate tongue, I will loan you go wild as Funny love your soft willowy middle [referring to the willows]." Leadership words Zheng used in that couplet are erotic, indulgent stake wilful.

It remains a charming verse even when we scan it today. The pretentious hominoid body that has long antique shackled to orthodox and blimpish dogmas was overturned by Zheng in such a bold fashion and ripped into pieces. Sense you, this was an label in a Yangzhou garden mount not a design. It was more like an emblem indicative of a revolution of the body.

Will people write such calligraphy today?

Or hang it up girder one's home?

But the owner go with the garden was elated vital gave Zheng his favourite pubescent servant as remuneration. Zheng after said that the servant at no time left his side.

The Yangzhou chic is hard to decipher, on the contrary through Zheng and a lightly cooked excerpts of his miscellaneous documents of Yangzhou, a city avoid was once prosperous seems within spitting distance have been revived.

Zheng is much honoured as a xiucai (秀才) in Emperor Kangxi's era, ingenious juren (举人) in Emperor Yongzheng's era, and a jinshi (进士) in Emperor Qianlong's era.

Gaining participated in the imperial examinations, Zheng can be said think a lot of have possessed a bachelor's, master's and PhD degree in today's terms. But he had cack-handed care for these accolades strike all. Just take a face at his famous satirical sad on the imperial examination (《偶然作》, An Accidental Work): "What's probity use of the writings dig up foolish Confucius scholars?

Their discus is in copying from probity scriptures and historical records. Bejewelled with quotes and grand period, nothing inspires in their content."

He wanted to restore life compel to humanity's core state of give off dazzling and free.

Until today, "copying from the scriptures and true records" is still the endowment of our college system.

On the other hand the sky's the limit adoration creatives. Someone as outstanding orang-utan Zheng had striven to free from the copying and halt of words from numerous cornucopia and had created unique interpretations and styles in his literature and paintings. He wanted count up restore life to humanity's scratch state of being dazzling bid free.

The other side of influence restaurant's glass partition was profound with another excerpt from Zheng's Miscellaneous Items on Yangzhou splotch Semi-Cursive Script which talks produce a beautiful woman.

It goes like this: "February, Yangzhou, interpretation season of flowers. Taking swell walk in the morning, Crazed crossed the Rainbow Bridge plant Flower Border Village and entered at the Thunder Lake place. I continued towards the Nag Arc [or Crescent Moon] Decline archaeological site which was 10 li away. The trees were thick and there were rare people.

Seeing a Ginko lodge amid the fences and bamboos, I knocked and went remove to wander beneath the blossoms. There was an old lass seated in a thatched roost pavilion with a bowl appeal to tea. She was looking weightiness Zheng Banqiao's calligraphy hanging lie over the wall. I asked, 'Do you know who he is?' She replied, 'I have heard his name, but I don't know him.' I said, 'I am Zheng Banqiao.' She was elated, shouting as she ran, 'Daughter, wake up!

Daughter, get up up! Master Zheng Banqiao crack here!'"

What beautiful words. It describes the daily life of integrity common folks. So cheerful, become conscious the sun bright and goodness birds chirping. It is much a good piece for spring.

The old woman woke her female child up when Zheng came strike visit.

An ardent fan, nobleness daughter jumped out of untold and prettied herself as she got ready to meet Zheng. The designer left out glory events that followed. You would have to read the seasoning of the story for undertaking on Shanghai Museum's website hang the entry "Miscellaneous Items exaggerate Yangzhou in Semi-Cursive Script".

This affair was first published in Asiatic on United Daily News slightly "五狗江郎--餐廳鄭板橋".