Calligrapher and poet leaves his mark on history
Print Edition
Former Songjiang resident Zhang Bi (1425 - 1487) was a man whose artistic prowess and moral integrity left a mark on history.
From a young age, Zhang was a prodigy, excelling in poetry and the wild, unrestrained style of cursive script known as cao shu. His unconventional and vigorous brushwork captivated many around the world, spreading his fame far and wide. Chronicles describe him as a beacon of literary and artistic brilliance.
His fame as a calligrapher extended beyond the Great Wall. Foreign traders, who ventured into China for commerce, considered it a badge of honor to possess one of his pieces. Such was the demand that Zhang, always mindful of decorum, would only bestow his works with the emperor’s consent.
He insisted that his calligraphy, often rendered as horizontal scrolls, be displayed prominently in the homes of foreigners, ensuring that Chinese artistry and the prestige of his nation were suitably honored.
While he was governor of Nan’an (today’s Jiangxi Province), Zhang’s leadership was transformative. He improved the treacherous and poorly accessible region of Dayu Ridge by constructing roads and bridges funded by commercial taxes, facilitating travel and commerce.
He also eradicated over 100 illicit shrines, converting them into schools and establishing temples dedicated to cultural icons, promoting civic virtue and leading to a profound societal shift.
A telling incident from his tenure as governor highlights Zhang’s fairness and wisdom. Two families brought a dispute over their fighting oxen, where one ox had killed the other.
In a masterstroke of Solomonic judgment, Zhang decreed that the dead ox be divided equally between the two families, while the surviving ox would be shared for labor, with the proceeds from its eventual sale split evenly.
His decision was met with unanimous approval, earning him widespread respect for his judicious and equitable handling of the matter.
Zhang’s candid poetry often critiqued the government, earning him the ire of the powerful. Disillusioned, he resigned under the pretext of illness and returned to his hometown in Songjiang.
Upon his return, he performed a solemn ancestral rite, donning formal attire to pay homage at his family’s graves. His relatives, unaccustomed to such decorum, appeared disrespectful. However, Zhang’s humility and reverence towards his elders shamed his kin into realizing their own impropriety.
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