All That Flourishes Under the Brush: The Late Ming Culturati Wang Shizhen and His Endeavors

Wang Shizhen, untitled landscape, late 16th century,

This special exhibition examines the fascinating life of Wang Shizhen and his endeavors, offering a glimpse at the cultural efflorescence of the late Ming that bore witness to exceptional creativity and diverse competition in cultural life at the time. Shizhen (1526-1590), an important historian and litterateur of the Ming dynasty, has many works to his name. Also a devoted member of the arts, he took part in almost all of the major cultural realms of his day. Of particular note was the fact that he astutely observed the flourishing of society in the sixteenth century during the later part of the Ming dynasty. Through the eyes and under the brush of Wang Shizhen as a historian, it offers a unique perspective on the cultural underpinnings of this flourishing age.

Shizhen, who came to dominate literary and cultural circles for twenty years, especially admired Jin and Tang dynasty calligraphy, Song dynasty painting, and Song porcelain, and he advocated visual culture as a testimony to history. He proposed the notion of “Five Transformations in Painting History,” in which he clearly identified changes in the period style of Chinese painting. As for the arts and crafts of his day, Wang also had many opinions. He particularly promoted the “Three Masters of Wu” in calligraphy, was able to discern the phenomenon of fake tapestries, and criticized the popularity of Ming official porcelains as a mistake. His views and observations all derived from a keen eye and a willingness to go against popular trends.

In recent years, academic research on Wang Shizhen has become increasingly common. The collection of the National Palace Museum amply illustrates the man and his endeavors to illustrate, through his natural talent and cultural advantage as well as a macroscopic view as a historian, the numerous opinions he left behind that influenced later generations. As an active leader in many art and cultural activities, Wang Shizhen was thus able to mold and shape the cultural layout of his day.

Use the hamburger icon at the top right corner of the exhibition website to discover more about Shizen and see several works on display.