Calligrapher, playwright one of famous sons of district
Print Edition
Zhang Zhao (1691-1745), born in Songjiang during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), was a calligrapher, bibliographer and playwright. Some of his hand scrolls and paintings are preserved in museums and appreciated by many.
Zhang passed the imperial examination and was honored with the title jinshi, or presented scholar, at the age of 19. In 1733, he was appointed minister of justice during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng (1678-1735).
Zhang first studied calligraphy by imitating Dong Qichang (1555-1636), an eminent calligrapher of the Ming Dynasty and then was influenced by Mi Fu (1051-1107) and other calligraphers. But he didn’t limit himself to rigidly following others’ styles and developed his own.
His calligraphy work was representative of Guange style, a calligraphy style popular in the Ming and Qing dynasties that was written in strict and neat forms.
His works were spoken highly of by three well-known emperors in the Qing Dynasty — Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong. Emperor Qianlong once praised Zhang as second to Wang Xizhi (AD 303-361), the “Sage of Calligraphy,” who lived during the Jin Dynasty (AD 265–420).
Zhang’s calligraphy and paintings can be found in the Palace Museum today.
Zhang was author of two great collections, both containing 240 plays, that were thought to have significant influences in Kunqu Opera and Peking Opera. Xing Yu, a renowned scholar of opera, believes Zhang Zhao was the pioneer of drama series in China and once said, “Without the two 240-play legendries by Zhang Zhao, there wouldn’t have been the wealth of fascinating and interesting plots in many operas we see today.”
He died at the age of 55 on his way back to his hometown to attend his father’s funeral.
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