Introduction to Shen Zhou

Shen Zhou (1427-1509), with the character Qinan, the name of Shitian, Baishiweng, Yutiansheng, and master of Youzhuju, was a native of Changzhou (present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu Province). He was a master of painting in the Ming Dynasty, the founder of the Wu Men School of Painting, and one of the Four Masters of the Ming Dynasty.

Shen Zhou's life home study, poetry and painting, traveling in the woods and springs, the pursuit of spiritual freedom, contempt for the vicious political reality, life did not apply for the imperial examinations, always engaged in painting and calligraphy, is the founder of the middle of the Ming Dynasty literati paintings "Wu School", died in the fourth year of the Ming Zhende at the age of eighty-two years old.

Shen Zhou in the field of literati painting since the Yuan and Ming Dynasty has the role of the former and the latter, with Wen Zhengming, Tang Yin, Qiu Ying, known as the "Ming four". Heirloom works include "high map of lushan", "autumn forest old map", "cangzhou interesting map". He is the author of "Shida set", "guest news" and so on.

Chinese name: Shen Zhou

Alias: Qinan; No. Shitian, Baishiweng, etc.

Nationality: Ming Dynasty

Ethnicity: Han Chinese

Birthplace: Changzhou (present-day Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province)

Date of birth: 1427 A.D.

Date of death: 1509 A.D.

Occupation: Painter Master

Beliefs: Taoism

Major Achievements: Master of Painting in the Ming Dynasty

Founded the Wumen School of Painting

Representative Works: High Drawings of Mount Lu, Shitian Collection, and Night Sitting Drawings

Elderly: 82 Years Old

Son: Shen Yunhong

Personal Biography

Shen Zhou, known by the character Qinan, was a native of Changzhou . His grandfather, Shen Cheng, was elected as a talented person during the Yongle period, but did not go to become an official. He lived in a place called Xizhuang, where he arranged banquets for guests every day, and people compared him to Gu Zhongying. His uncle, Shen Zhenji, and father, Shen Hengji, were both noble and reclusive. Built a house made of bamboo in which the two brothers studied. He was so good at composing poems and paintings that even his slave girls knew how to write and compose. There was a man named Chen Mengxian in the town, who was the son of Chen Ji, a doctor of the Five Classics. When Shen Zhou was young, he traveled with him and received his guidance and teaching. When Shen Zhou was eleven years old, he traveled to Nandu to study and wrote a hundred poems and presented them to Cui Gong, the governor. Cui Gong face to face questions to Shen Zhou copy "Phoenix Terrace Fugue", Shen Zhou picked up the pen and immediately write, Cui Gong long sigh, Shen Zhou is very peculiar. When Shen Zhou grew up, no books do not read. Write articles to imitate the writing of the San Du Fu Zuo Si, write poetry simulation Bai Juyi, Su Shi, Lu You, and calligraphy to imitate Huang Tingjian: all by the people of the time loved and valued. He was especially good at painting, and was considered by critics to be the first in the Ming dynasty.

Shen Zhou was recommended by the county magistrate to be an official because of his excellent talent. Shen Zhou divined according to the Zhou Yi and got the 95th line of the Gua Gua, so he resolved to live in seclusion and escape from the world. He lived in a place with flowing water, bamboo, pavilions, the beauty of the house, pictures, books, incense burning pots and cups of wine are sufficient and staggered, celebrities from all directions to visit him, follow him, so that there is no free days. His exceptional style and talent were very conspicuous at that time. He served both parents very dutifully. After his father's death, he was urged to become an official, to which he replied, "Don't you know that my mother depends on me for her life? How can I leave his knees?" He was always tired of going into the city, and purchased a comfortable dwelling outside the outer city where he could stay for a while. If something came up, he would go there for a while. In his later years, hiding his tracks only worried about not being secluded enough, before and after the governor Wang Fu, Peng Li all treated him respectfully with courtesy, to keep him in his own official residence, but he excused himself on the grounds of his mother's old age.

A county governor enlisted painters to paint the walls of his house. The village people who were jealous of Shen Zhou reported his name, and Shen Zhou was arrested. Some people advised Shen Zhou to visit the princes and nobles in order to seek pardon, but Shen Zhou said, "It is my duty to go and serve in the army; but is it not more disgraceful for me to visit those princes and nobles?" He returned home only after completing the labor he had served. Soon afterward, when the Taishou entered the palace to meet the Emperor, the department in charge of selecting officials asked the Taishou, "Is Mr. Shen Zhou still well?" Not knowing what to answer, the Taishou casually responded, "He is fine." Paying a visit to the cabinet, Li Dongyang asked him, "Does Mr. Shen Zhou have a letter?" The Taishou was even more shocked and casually responded again, "There is a letter, but it has not been delivered yet." Taishou came out, hastily pay a visit to the Minister Wu Kuan, asked him, "Mr. Shen Zhou is what person?" Wu Kuan explained Shen Zhou's appearance in detail. The governor asked the surrounding attendants, only to learn that it was the gentleman who painted the walls of his home. When he returned, he personally visited Shen Zhou's house, paid two obeisances, and attributed the fault to himself.

Shen Zhou was reluctant to travel to distant places for life because of his mother. Mother was ninety-nine years old before she died, Shen Zhou also lived to the age of eighty. After three years, he died in the fourth year of Zhengde.

Works of Art

Paintings

Shaft of Imitation of Dong Ju's Landscape Painting (painted in the ninth year of the Chenghua reign, 1473 A.D.), Scroll of Interesting Pictures of Cangzhou, Picture of Pawns, Picture of Inked Vegetables (the two were originally albums, but later assembled into a scroll), and Reclining Touring Picture. East Village", "Peony", "Potted Chrysanthemums", "Smoke River Roach", "Mount Lu High".

Writings

"Remembering the View of the Snowy Moon"

Original text of the work

Dingwei's year (1), winter warmth without snow. On the third day of the first month of Wushen (2), the snow began to clear up on the fifth day (3). The wind and cold 窶冱 not eliminated (4), to ten days is still in also, is the night of the moon, the moon and the snow to compete with the rotten, sitting under the paper window, feel bright and clear different taste. I was able to get up, and climbed up to the west side of the creek to the small building. Building facing the water, under all the virtual clarity (5), and four caught in the snow, if painted silver, if splashed with mercury, Teng light shining people, flesh and bone Ying. The moon is reflected in the clear waves, the shadow of the trees ___, and if the mirror to see the sparse hair, away from the lovely (6). Cold soaked skin (7), clear into the lungs, because of the column _ on (8). Yang and blank (9), down and indistinct (10); ah and Mo forbid (11), ogle and not collect; God and the integration of things, people view the two strange, cover the sky will be to me in the land of Taisu (12), can not paintings to chase the shape of the text to say (13), in order to send a letter to those who can not be followed. Gu gain is not much! I think the world's famous mountains and rivers should be bigger than this, the snow and the moon when there is God. I want to hold it to fly to the eight table (14), and return to their minds. Sweat although not easy to level (15), but the old gas soughing (16), there is not win its cold. Is the Hao song downstairs, the night has been over two drums carry on (17). Still return to the window, sitting as if lost (18). I think this scene is not repeatedly encountered in my life, and forgetful day, looking to change a few days (19), then again, I don't know what the cloud (20), because of the pen.

Translation of works

Ding Wei this winter, the weather is warm without snow. The next year (Wushen), snow began to fall on the third day of the first month, and the weather cleared up on the fifth day of the first month. But still the cold winds, ice and snow, until the first ten days of the first month of the earth is still silver. That night, the moon rose in the sky, the snow and the moon, I sat under the paper window, I feel bright. So I added clothes and went out and climbed the small building on the west side of the stream. The small building is next to the stream, (the stream) clear water, covered with snow, as if coated with a layer of silver, and as mercury splashed on the ground, crystal shining, the human skin is also reflected in the crystal white. The moon reflects the cold water waves, tree shadows swaying in the water, as reflected in the mirror hair, all clear. Cold cold air into the bones, into the lungs, I hold the railing and up. Looking up, boundless; looking down, chaotic. Unconsciously yaran more than marveled, gazed at a long time unwilling to withdraw their gaze. The human spirit and external objects into a whole, themselves and their surroundings have become a magical landscape. God placed me in the universe, this scenery is not even with a brush to convey, also inconvenient to use words to lay out, conveyed to those who did not personally visit this scene. In this way, I have got a lot, is not it? At the same time I also thought, the world's famous mountains and rivers should be more spectacular than here, where the snow and moon reflect the scenery should be more magical. My thoughts were racing in all directions, and it took me a long time to come back to my senses. I couldn't suppress my boundless thoughts, but because of my old age and declining health, I couldn't stand the cold anymore. So I sang and walked down the stairs, when it was already past the second night. Back to the window, sitting alone. I thought about this life this kind of scenery did not see more, and day by day to forget, day by day to be changed, a lot of have been bewildered and blurred. So I wrote down the experience with my notes.

Poetry

Mount Lu is high

Mount Lu is high, high! The disk distance of two hundred and fifty miles is lush. The precariousness of the two thousand three hundred feet, said that the shallow shallow original. Pei He dares to compete with its male? West to the rift valley Maundy its feet, clouds and Xia XunYi vomit in its chest. Back to the cliffs of the Roach ghost hand breaks, stream road thousands of feet open Hong. The waterfalls murmur and the thunder is deafening to the ears of those who hear it. Sometimes there are falling leaves in the middle of it, straight down Peng Li flow frost rainbow. The gold cream water blue can not be found, the stone forest is dark, the number of green bears. The sun of the peaks of the five old people, or suspect that the essence of the Weixing Senho from the empty. Chen Fu Zi, now Zhong Gong, the family under the Lu, there is a Yuan chiseling ancestor relocated to Jiangdong. Still know Lu Ling have tacit understanding, not far away from thousands of kilometers in the public Kushi. Gong also look westward to miss the old capital, will want to rely on the five old nest Yunsong. In the past, I heard that Ziyang sacrificed to the six old men, so I might as well add the public and become a seven-wrong man. I often visit the public door, Yang Gongya high hut. I don't respect the garden, fat and recluse seventy obscenity, writings white hair like autumn puffs. Wen can be combined with the tomb poetry and elegant, since the happy place in which. Glory, fame, fortune and cloud over the eye, on the book is not self-recommendation, the next is not public communication. The public is! The yellow swan is in the sky and the wind is in the sky.

Curtains

Embroidered rain and flowers, she is self-satisfied, the red face riding the bamboo I have no chance.

It's hard to get in without a chance, so I'm not afraid to compete with the swallows.

The title of the painting

The tender yellow willow has not hidden the crows, and the peaches on the other side of the bank are half-flowering. The scenery is so picturesque, and I love my home naturally.

Sending Yun Hui

Lu Lang went to the spring mountains a few nights ago, and the birds and flowers of the mountains were all in love. The first thing I'd like to say is that I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm sure I'm going to be able to do it.

The title is Dr. Ke Jingzhong's bamboo branch

The purple smoke is blowing wet Bilang_, and I can recognize Kui Zhang's ink is not broken. I don't want to ask you about the return of Mr. Jiangnan, spring rain and apricot blossom cold.

Gardenia

The snowy icy flowers cool air clear, curved appendage deep colorful spirit. A hook crescent moon wind leads the shadow, secretly sends the delicate fragrance into the painting court

The stream pavilion small scenery

Pavilion facing the water said meditative perch, polygonum islet Shaping at hand. The rain is coming down on the mountain, and the clouds are falling from the tops of the bamboos.

The old barricades on the eaves are the male and female swallows, and the hedge foot autumn insects are the male and female chickens. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get a good look at this, but I'm sure I'm going to be able to get a good look at this.

The apricot blossoms in Qingyunan under the rain and moonlight

The apricot blossoms are in full bloom in the city, and I sleep in the monk's room and hear the sound of rain. I was in the monk's room and heard the sound of the rain. I got up in a hurry to see the red color of the flowers, and the two plants in the opposite room made my eyes bright.

It's also good to sit at night and enjoy the rest of the day, quietly avoiding the bees and butterflies to dispute. The first thing you need to do is to get your hands on some of the most popular products and services in the world, and you'll be able to do that.

The green apple is not enough to be compared to the water, the golden lotus shadow degree double graceful. The moon in the courtroom is silent, but the wind has been a slight fragrance.

The old monk is accustomed to seeing no intention, but love the small paper swallow fat haunting. The high fasting wall can be a long time, can not help but fall into the sadness of the human feelings.

Major influences

Artistic achievements

Shen Zhou in the field of literati paintings since the Yuan and Ming dynasties have a role in the beginning and end. His calligraphy master Huang Tingjian, painting attainments are particularly deep, both landscape, birds and flowers, but also able to paint the figure, to landscape and birds and flowers outstanding achievements. In the painting method, Shen Zhou early years to bear family learning, and master Du Qiong. Later on, he learned from all the schools and schools of the Song and Yuan dynasties, mainly inheriting the ink and light-red system of Dong Yuan and Ju Ran, as well as the four Yuan dynasties of Huang Gongwang, Wang Meng and Wu Zhen. In addition, he used the brush and ink of Li, Liu, Ma, and Xia of the Southern Song Dynasty, and formed a new style of thick brush and ink, forming his own style by integrating the rigid and soft brush and ink. Shen Zhou became the leader of the painting world in his middle age, the technique is rigorous and beautiful, the brush is calm and steady, hidden sinews. In his later years, he had a cheerful disposition, and his brush and ink were bold and simple, with a majestic atmosphere. Throughout Shen Zhou's paintings, techniques comprehensive, profound, in the division of the Song and Yuan method on the basis of their own creations, and further develop the literati ink landscape, bird and flower painting techniques, known as the leader of the Wu school of painting.

Shen Zhou's paintings made two major contributions to traditional landscape painting: first, the integration of the South into the North, carrying forward the tradition of literati painting. Such as Shen Zhou's thick brush landscapes, brush into the Zhejiang School of force and hardness, hills and valleys added to the guardian of the bone and momentum, the Southern Song of the pale and thick and the Northern Song of the magnificent and clear into one, its expression of emotions from the quiet and cold and become grand and calm. Second, the poetry, calligraphy and painting further combined. Shen Zhou's calligraphy from Huang Tingjian, calligraphy style "vigorous and strange", and his landscape painting is very similar to the pale and thick, coordinated. He also used the calligraphy of the wrist, the method of brushwork in painting. Shen Zhou is also a poet, to the old age, "excels in frustration, rich and old". He combined this poetic style and painting style, so that the paintings made, more poetic and picturesque.

Art style

Summary

Shen Zhou's art of landscape painting in the inheritance of one of the four Yuan dynasty Wang Meng style of painting, and the Southern Song dynasty style of the courtyard, the formation of the composition of rigorous, neat brushwork, meticulous layout of the style of the main method of Wu Zhen, and Ni Zan, Huang Gongwang and other people's painting method, the formation of the composition of concise, heavy brushwork, ink and ink, thick and pale, and hastily made of the characteristics of the. In terms of painting style, it can be roughly divided into three stages: the early stage of laying the foundation, the middle stage of formation and development, and the late stage of thick brush and ink, old and spicy lines, and far-reaching mood.

Shen Zhou in the field of literati painting since the Yuan and Ming dynasties have the role of the former and the latter. His calligraphy master Huang Tingjian, painting attainments are particularly deep, both landscape, birds and flowers, but also able to paint people, to landscape and birds and flowers outstanding achievements. Shen Zhou's paintings, comprehensive skills, simple and simple, in the master of the Song and Yuan on the basis of their own creation, the development of the literati ink writing landscape, bird and flower painting techniques, and became the leader of the Wu school of painting. Some of his landscape paintings depicted high mountains and rivers, showing the traditional landscape painting of the three distant landscapes. Most of his works depicted southern landscapes and gardens, showing the leisurely life of the literati at that time.

In terms of painting methods, Shen Zhou was taught by his family and Du Qiong in his early years. Later, he learned from all, and went in and out of the Song and Yuan schools, and then formed his own family. Shen Zhou's early years more small, 40 years old after the beginning of the top large, middle-aged painting method is rigorous and delicate, the pen is calm and strong, to win the bone force, the late years of the brush and ink rough and bold, strong momentum. Shen Zhou's painting, comprehensive skills, in the study of predecessors on the basis of their own creation.

Early

Shen Zhou was born in an artistic family, which is an advantage that few others have. He studied under Chen Kuan at the age of seven to receive his initiation, and at the age of fifteen he formally studied painting under Liu Jue, learning poetry and painting seriously under the guidance of the two strict masters. At the age of thirty-seven (1463), Shen Zhou considered himself to have left the stage of painting. According to the evidence, before 1461, Shen Zhou's paintings into the society is very little, also do not see the record of his paintings to friends and guests. But around 1463, that is, the late Tianshun dynasty, Shen Zhou's paintings were given to others or appeared in social activities.

Midterm

Forty to fifty years old for Shen Zhou landscape painting art style "coarse Shen" formation and development of the key period. Shen Zhou in this stage of the landscape painting method is mainly taken from one of the four Yuan dynasty Wang Meng, and learn from Dong Yuan, Ju Ran, the formation of fine style characteristics, while not limited to the influence of family learning and Wang Meng or Song painting style, and bypassed Wu Zhen, Huang Gongwang, Ni Zan and other styles of painting. The styles of his paintings were from complex to simple, from fine to coarse, and expanding to large size. And in the subject matter of the paintings are mostly taken from the rural landscape of Jiangnan, and with the painter's unique feelings into the brush, showing a pale and heavy landscape situation, the works have shown the trend of "fine Shen" to "coarse Shen" transformation.

Shen Zhou landscape painting art style transition period is roughly between the age of fifty and sixty, this period for Shen Zhou's "coarse Shen" style stereotypes. At this stage, on the one hand, he continued to learn from the Yuan four schools, on the other hand, he tried to innovate his techniques, and successfully interpreted the painting methods of Wang Meng, Dong Yuan, Ju Ran, Huang Gongwang, Mi Fu, Ni Zan, Wu Zhen and so on in his exploration and practice. Shen Zhou in the middle and late stage, landscape painting style mainly based on Wu Zhen, and in the inheritance and interpretation of new breakthroughs, and successfully integrated Huang Tingjian calligraphy brushwork into the landscape painting brush and ink language expression, so that his paintings to form a "coarse Shen" personal appearance.

Late period

Shen Zhou landscape painting art painting late period is after sixty years old. Shen Zhou's paintings in this period, Wu Zhen's varied brush and ink way, Wang Meng's painting style of fine and thick and moist and Huang Gongwang's brushwork of the majesty of the dashing, "set the method of all the schools" and the formation of a kind of practiced, thick, pale, pale and moist style of landscape paintings, and successfully expressed a painter's interpretation of nature, the release of brush and ink and the expression of the spirit of self-expression. The artist's interpretation of nature, the release of brush and ink, and the expression of his own spirit are successfully demonstrated. In his later years, his works are steady, thick and simple, wet and pale, robust and solid, with simple and bold brushwork and strong momentum. The true sense of the "coarse Shen" style characteristics are maturing.

Works collection

Shen Zhou's representative works in large museums. The Palace Museum has a collection of exquisite works, the important ones are Imitation of Dong Ju landscape scroll, Cangzhou interesting picture scrolls, the pawn yi figure, the ink vegetable figure, the reclining picture. Nanjing museum also has a collection of Shen Zhou fine works, including Dongzhuang Tu, Peony scroll, this painting was painted in 1506, when Shen Zhou was 81 years old. Liaoning museum has two masterpieces of shen zhou, one is the pots and chrysanthemums enjoying the picture volume, the picture in the tree stone pavilion, pavilion drinking chrysanthemums, three people, attitude leisurely, cloth situation sparse, pleasant scenery. The other is the smoke river Roach map volume, made in the second year of Zhengde (1507), the use of ink and brush, as you like, full of paper smoke love, Shen Zhou 82-year-old masterpiece.

In addition, the National Palace Museum in Taiwan also hides a Shen Zhou very famous "Mount Lu high map" axis. If you can see these works, not only can get excellent artistic enjoyment, but also can understand the characteristics of Shen Zhou's painting, help distinguish the authenticity.

Anecdotes

Shen Zhou was born in a family of poetry and books, since childhood is the traditional Chinese culture. He was very knowledgeable and rich in collections. Widely traveled, very popular, usually peaceful and approachable, want to books and paintings, "sandals full of outdoor", "peddlers and herdsmen" to him for paintings, never refused. Shen Zhou's paintings are vivid, Wen Zhengming therefore called him "immortal man" who floated outside the world.

Cao Taishou his people, the completion of the new house to map its pillars, searching for painters, Shen Zhou is also among them, the Secretary to the registry, Shen Zhou said: "do not frighten the old mother, I dare not go to the painting after the guest quite unfair said: "Taishou do not know Mr., why cheap Mr. here? Visit your tour can not go." Shen Zhou replied: "to serve righteousness, how can there be cheap? Visit and seek exemption, is cheap."

Hongzhi eleven years, Changzhou new Cao Taishou, want to enlist the local famous painters to decorate the House. Yamen has a cynical Shen Zhou's minor officials, see the new governor is not familiar with the local celebrities, wrote Shen Zhou's name in it, so that the hall of painters to do the work of small workers, also counted as a humiliating him back. So the government office when the police enlisted Shen Zhou into the city to serve as a laborer, painting for the governor.

At this time, the Cabinet of the University of Li Dongyang, Wen Yuange University, the Ministry of households, such as Wang Griddle, Shen Zhou is a close friend. Unexpectedly, Shen Zhou, but a bland smile, after that, Shen Zhou really every day to the governor's office painting, early morning and late at night, enjoying themselves, a dry is a few months renovation is complete, Cao Taishou personally come to acceptance, but also specially rewarded him a few pennies. Soon, Cao Taishou to the capital to report to his duties, the Ministry of Justice asked casually: "Mr. Shen recent health?" Mr. Cao did not know what to say, but did not dare to ask, so he answered vaguely: "He is in good health!" On another day, Mr. Cao went to visit Li Dongyang again. Li Dongyang asked him alone: "Mr. Shen has a letter for you to bring?" Cao Taishou was at a loss for words, so he answered in faith, "There is a letter, but it just hasn't been delivered yet."

After quitting in a panic, Cao Taishou hurried to visit his good friend Wu Kuan, the right minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and asked him, "What kind of person is Mr. Shen of Changzhou?" Squire Wu told him in detail about Shen Zhou. Cao Taishou then realized that Mr. Shen was actually the old painter who painted and decorated the walls for him. He was so scared that he was sweating profusely, and when he returned to Suzhou from the capital, Taishou Cao didn't even dare to go back home, he went straight to Bamboo Village and apologized to Shen Zhou again and again.

Relationships

Shen's family had been secluded in the Wu Gate for generations and lived in Xiangcheng, Suzhou. Shen Zhou's great-grandfather was a close friend of Wang Meng; father Shen Hengji, and Du Qiong's students. Calligraphy and painting are the source of family learning. Father, uncle are famous for poetry, calligraphy and painting in the township.

Historical records

Shen Zhou, word Qinan, a native of Changzhou, poetry and painting. Zu Cheng, between Yongle lifted the talent. Not in. Lived in said Xizhuang, day wine pastoral guests, people compared to the Gu Zhongying. Uncle Zhenji, father Hengji, and resistance to hidden. Constructed a bamboo house, brothers study therein, work poetry and good painting, Zang won also understand literature and ink. Chen Mengxian, the son of Chen Wujing Jijie, was a member of the Yi People's Liberation Army (邑人陈孟贤者). Zhou traveled with him at a young age and was taught by him. Year eleven, traveled to Nandu, made a hundred rhyme poem, on the governor Cui Gong. Interview "Phoenix Terrace Fugue", the pen immediately, Christine great contempt. And long, all books are not read. Wen copy Zuo's, poems like Bai Juyi, Su Shi, Lu You, word imitation of Huang Tingjian, and for the world's favorite. Particularly good at painting, the commentators said that the first Ming Shi. County magistrates want to recommend Zhou Xianliang, Zhou divining "Yi", got "recluse" of the nine and a half, Zhou decided to hide. The residence has a water bamboo pavilion pavilion of victory, books, tripods and Yi full _ staggered columns, the four sides of the celebrities from the no false day, the style of the literary color reflects a time. Serving the family to filial piety. Father did not, or persuade the Shi, said: "If I do not know my mother's life for me? Naiji away from the knee." Habitat is averse to entering the city, outside of Guo set up a nest, something to build. In his later years, the anonymity of the fear of not deep, successive governors Wang Fu, Peng Li Xian respect, want to stay under the curtain, and the mother's old resignation.

Some county commissioners levied painters to paint the walls of the house. The people of the week, into its name, and then was taken. Or advise Zhou to visit your tour to avoid, Zhou said: "to the service, righteousness, visit your tour, not more humiliating!" Pawn service and return. Have been and keep an audience, Ambrose Cao asked, "Mr. Shen unhurt?" Shou did not know what to, diffuse should say: "unhurt." See the Cabinet, Li Dongyang said: "Mr. Shen have documents?" Shou Yi stunned, and again diffuse response said: "there and not yet arrived." Shou out, hasty visit to the Minister Wu Kuan, asked "Mr. Shen who?" Wide prepared to say its appearance. Inquire about, is a painting wall student. Than also, visited the Zhou She, and then bowed to cite the blame, ask for rice, rice and go. Zhou to mother, lifelong travel. Mother year ninety-nine and end, Zhou is also eighty. Another three years, to Zhengde four years died.

Memorial

Shen Zhou's tomb and Shen Zhou's hometown park

Shen Zhou's hometown and Shen Zhou's tomb in today's Yangcheng Lake Town, Xiangcheng District. It is understood that the Yangcheng Lake Town is the Ming dynasty "wumen painting" originator of Shen Zhou's hometown, in 1509, Shen Zhou died of illness, buried in the Xiangcheng west paper Wei, is now the current Yangcheng Lake Town, West House, written by Wen Zhengming, Wang Griddle epitaph.

Shen Zhou's tomb covers an area of 5 acres, surrounded by a small river, and build a green stone Luo Cheng, sealing soil height of about 3 meters. In front of the tomb there are the remains of the tomb of two green stone pillars. Shen Zhou descendant Shen Yanliang in 1928 rebuilt to the top of the Pavilion a monument, within the Ming Wang Fanshu "Shen hermit Mr. Shida epitaph)}, Ming Zhang Xuan wrote "the late Shen Liang Zhuo wife Xu's epitaph", (the late Ru Ren Xu's epitaph), in 1928, Shi Zhaolin wrote the "Shen's monument Pavilion record", in 1921, the end of the Qing Dynasty, the old man Wu Yimpei titled "Mr. Shida, the tomb of the Ming Shi Shi," monument and other monuments are now preserved within the Tomb Pavilion.

In 1993, the former Xiangcheng Township restored the Tombstone Pavilion, re-established the green stone tombstone; in 1956, Shen Zhou's Tomb was announced by the People's Government of Jiangsu Province for the provincial cultural heritage units. Repair in the 1980s, Wu County Cultural Management Committee had funded the repair of Shen Zhou's tomb, in 2002, Yangcheng Lake township government also funded its protective repairs again. 2004 Yangcheng Lake township to Shen Zhou's tomb as the axis of the front and back of the pond and the surrounding leisure land into a scenic series, built the Shen Zhou hometown park.

Shen Zhou calligraphy and painting heritage museum

March 28, 2017, Yangcheng Lake Town Xiangcheng Primary School held a series of activities under the theme of "passing on the Qinan painting and calligraphy, bearing Shen Zhou arts and culture". Shen Zhou statue unveiled, held a donation ceremony of calligraphy and painting, opening Shen Zhou calligraphy and painting heritage museum. Shen Zhou painting and calligraphy Heritage Museum by Xiangcheng elementary school. The museum was officially opened on the day, focusing on Shen Zhou's life course, artistic pursuit and moral spirit. As a platform for displaying Shen Zhou's life story, exhibition of Shen Zhou's high-fashion calligraphy and painting representative works, and displaying students' award-winning works.

Later studies

Yangcheng Lake town has been focusing on collecting and organizing Shen Zhou books and albums. *** collected in 1982 the Shanghai people's art publishing house published Shen Shitian album, 1984 Jiangsu art publishing house published comic strip Shen Shitian and other two early albums, as well as a number of sets of Shen Zhou calligraphy and painting collection, Shen Zhou - landscape book, Shen Zhou paintings compiled and Shen Zhou - China good danqing masters of the strips of fine reproductions of a number of volumes of documentary material. Shen Zhou's life and works in a more in-depth study, Yangcheng Lake town planning to set up "Shen Zhou Research Association".

Shen Zhou brand

In Xiangcheng elementary school set up in the inheritance of the Wu school of painting as the theme of "Qinan painting and calligraphy", invited a number of contemporary "Wu school of painting" famous painters regularly come to the school guidance, and in the establishment of the "Shen Zhou Calligraphy Club". "Shen Zhou Calligraphy Club" "Shen Zhou Painting Club" "Shen Zhou Literature Club" and other school clubs on the basis of the regular annual week-long "Shen Zhou Culture and Arts Festival", focusing on displaying the results of the inheritance of "Shen Zhou culture"; since 2016, Yangcheng Lake Township opened the "Shen Zhou Lecture Hall", Shen Yimin, a descendant of Shen Zhou, served as the main speaker of the first lecture, for teachers and students to tell the sage Shen Zhou Tireless creation of calligraphy and painting research spirit and the noble character of indifferent to fame and fortune. To carry out the selection of "good people of Shen Zhou" and organize "Shen Zhou cultural seminar". 2017, held a 2-3 day "Shen Zhou Cultural Festival". 2018 September, the Yangcheng Lake town and Jiangsu Provincial Artists Association signed a contract to establish "Shen Zhou Cultural Research Institute".

On September 21, 2018, Shen Zhou Cultural Park held three Shen Zhou cultural seminars, including "Shen Zhou cultural industry" forum, Shen Zhou's person and family style, Shen Zhou's artistic attainments and influence in the art world, more than 20 domestic and foreign well-known experts in the cultural industry and experts in Shen Zhou cultural research in-depth discussions and exchanges. exchange.

In October 2019, Yangcheng Lake Township, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of China and the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, organized the first national "Yangcheng Lake" Art Festival. Yangcheng Lake Town will create a "Shen Zhou Cultural Belt", starting from Shen Zhou's tomb, taking Shen Zhou Road, passing through Shen Zhou's village, to the Shen's ancestral hall located in the old street of Xiangcheng City, to make the central area of Yangcheng Lake Town into a "Shen Zhou Town" with unique cultural characteristics.

Painting Appreciation

"Mount Lu high map"

Ming Dynasty painter Shen Zhou. Vertical axis, paper, light color, vertical 193.8 cm, horizontal 98.1 cm, now in the National Palace Museum in Taipei. In the picture, the mountains are overlapping, the grass and trees are abundant, the waterfall is hanging high, and the clouds are floating, the composition and layout of this picture are quite ingenious, and the intensity of the black color is gradually changing. The author took from wang meng technique, good at combining dense high stacked rocks, and then form the twisting and turning interlocking layers of mountains, and then the location of the size of forests and trees, composite for the whole of the natural beauty, sparse, loose and tight, organized. Mount Lu high map" is Shen Zhou forty-one years old to congratulate the teacher Chen Kuan seventy birthday of the elaborate work. This painting imitation of wang meng brushwork, the picture of the mountains, grass and trees, magnificent. The lower right corner of the picture slope, two strong pines gnarled coiled, forming a close-up; in the middle of the famous Mount Lu waterfall as the center, the water curtain hanging high, flying down, two cliffs between the wooden bridge diagonally across the water to break the water flying white stagnant, on both sides of the ___ rocky cliffs, was the convergence of the situation. Above the waterfall above the main peak of Mount Lushan towering, floating clouds, the mountain gradually into the lofty. Composition from the near view of the hillside gnarled pines, in the waterfall, _ rock, cliffs, the main peak of Mount Lu in the distance, from bottom to top, from near to far, near, in the far view connected, a breath of fresh air, through the combination and the formation of S-shaped curve. This composition is very much like the program of the Southern Song court; the handling of the near scene is also very similar to Ma Yuan's "A Corner" scene. The whole picture is a group of peaks directly inserted, back and forth to cover, competition, is really everyone's handiwork. The author of this picture self-recognition "Mount Lu high" in seal script, and the title of a long song in ancient style, the end of the recognition of the "Chenghua dinghai duanyang day, the door to grow Chau Shen Zhou poems and paintings, for the wake up Um have Road Zun Mr. life". Chen Kuan word Mengxian, No. Singsuan, learned, Poetry. With the Tang method, also good at painting, was Shen Zhou division. Chen Kuan ancestor is from Jiangxi, so this picture is written on Mount Lu "high", as a symbol.

"Mount Lu high picture" is Shen Zhou congratulate teacher Chen Kuan 70 birthday and create a huge landscape. Chen Kuan's ancestral home in Linjiang (present-day Jiangxi Qingjiang), so the painter depicted high Mount Lu in Jiangxi Province, symbolizing the moral nobility of the teacher, at the same time expressed high respect for the teacher (this symbolism is taken from the "Poetry Classic - Xiao Ya": "high mountains, Jingxingxing line stop"). The artist adopts a panoramic composition, arranging the picture in a lofty method, with overlapping mountains, lush grass and trees, strict structure and majestic momentum. The lower part of the picture near the corner of the painting of the mountain roots slope stone, pine and trees. The middle section of the Lushan waterfall as the center, flowing straight down, which two cliffs diagonally across the wooden bridge, breaking the monotony of the waterfall straight line. At the same time, the left side of the waterfall cliff texture with inward momentum, and the right side of the bank in the center of the mountain, seems to produce a force collision, thus strengthening the upward tension of the mountain. The two tall pines in the lower section, its posture obviously echoes the upward trend of the mountain in the middle section, and naturally leads the viewer's vision to the upper section of the picture, so that the near, middle and distant scenes are connected with each other from the bottom to the top. The main peak of the upper section is majestic, with strange peaks standing on both sides and floating clouds. The main peak gives a person lofty and majestic, heavy and simple feeling, seems to imply the teacher's generous and generous personality spirit. Lushan high picture" belongs to the so-called "fine Shen" work. This painting in the painting method is borrowed from the yuan dynasty painter wang meng's technique, the peaks of the mountains more with the decoupling chapped, the brushwork is steady, full of strong rhythm and sense of force. The middle part of the mountain with folding band chapped, and Wang Meng "Ge Zhichuan moved to the map" painting method is somewhat similar to the ink color is lighter, chapped brush fine, showing the precipitous cliffs. The left side of the cliff first hook after chapped, ink color is heavier, and with burnt ink densely point, appear pale and deep. The whole picture of the rocks, layers of rock, thick and dense overlap, a peak a stone, the author is a dry pen with ten thousand pens of chapped, point. Composition of thick and thin, sparse and dense near and far levels, and plain and lush artistic interest. And details, such as the mountain since the clouds, the mountain trees and grass, stone steps, paths, and characters are painted meticulously, showing the painter's vigorous energy and rigorous and serious creative spirit. However, due to the author of the painting method in the best imitation of Wang Meng, trying to reproduce the Yuan hissing style, although he painted a very beautiful, but from the overall point of view but lack of the Yuan that does not stimulate not to encourage the bland and naive interest, more or less let a person feel that some of the impression of artifice.