Chinese calligraphy underwent great
developments in the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1367). Zhao Mengfu and Xian Yushu, who
advocated innovations on the basis of learning from the predecessors, put an end
to the decadent calligraphy style since the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279)
and created new calligraphy style of the Yuan Dynasty. In the Yuan Dynasty the
regular script and the cursive hand made prominent achievements, while the seal
character, official script and other styles of calligraphy also were developed
to some degree.
Among the calligraphy theory books,
Yanji belongs to a general survey; Explore the Essence of Calligraphy
by Su Lin, Addendum to Shujing by Lu Zong and Fashukao by
Sheng Ximing belong to a series; and Knacks for Members of the Imperial
Academy by Chen Duo, Xue'an Ziyao, Eight Skills of Xue'an Yongzi and
other works by Shi Puguang focused on calligraphy skills. In addition, many
calligraphy theories are included in prefaces and postscripts of calligraphic
works by Zhao Mengfu, Xian Yushu, Deng Wenyuan, Yu Ji, Ke Jiusi and other
calligraphers.
Zhao Menfu (1254-1322) was a descendent of a
Song (960-1279) imperial family. Zhao, who was gifted with a very retentive
memory, took office as the Sihucanjun of Zhenzhou when he was only 14
years old. After the downfall of the Southern Song Dynasty Zhao stepped down
from the political stage and devoted himself to reading, and later served the
Mongol-established Yuan Empire. Zhao was an honest and upright official who
always spoke directly and never cringed, even though
he once was an official of the Song Dynasty. A well-learned scholar, Zhao's
calligraphy works, paintings, poems and prose were also of a high artistic
level, with representative works such as The Annotation of the Collection of
Ancient Texts, Qinyuan and Yueyuan. The emperor of the Yuan once compared him with Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty (618-907)
and Su Shi of the Song Dynasty.
Zhao was adept in many styles of
calligraphy, such as seal character, official script, running script and the
cursive hand, and he also created his own style, Zhaoti. Zhao exerted a
significant influence on the calligraphy circle of the Ming and Qing dynasties
(1644-1911). Xian Yushu, who was an expert in regular script, running script and
cursive hand, also developed his own style characterized by magnificent strokes.
Zhao, Xian, as well as Deng Wenyuan, were regarded as the Three Great
Calligraphers of the Yuan Dynasty.