Zhao Mingcheng (1081-1129), also known as Defu (also known as Defu), was born in Zhucheng, Mizhou (now Longdu Street, Zhucheng, Shandong). He was the third son of Zhao Tingzhi, prime minister during the Chongning period of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty. . A famous epigrapher and cultural relic collector, he was born in the fourth year of Yuanfeng of Song Dynasty (1081) and died in the third year of Jianyan of Emperor Gaozong of Song Dynasty (1129). When Zhao Mingcheng was 21 years old and still studying at Taixue, he married Li Qingzhao. In October of the fourth year of Chongning (1105), he was awarded the title of Shaoqing Honglu. In March of the first year of Daguan (1107), Zhao Tingzhi passed away and was framed by Cai Jing. He was chased for the official position and his family members were implicated. Zhao Mingcheng and his wife lived in Qingzhou Township for 13 years. During the Xuanhe period, Zhao Mingcheng served as magistrate of Laizhou and Zizhou successively. In the first year of Jianyan (1127), Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, he became aware of Jiangning Prefecture. In the third year of Jianyan (1129), Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, he moved to Huzhou but did not go there and died of illness in Jiankang.
Zhao Mingcheng devoted himself to the study of epigraphy. He was good at it at a young age and remained committed to it throughout his life. He once said: "Since I was a child, I have enjoyed visiting the epigraphy and stone inscriptions of previous generations from the scholars and officials of the current generation." (Preface to "Epigraphy and Stone Records") After marrying Li Qingzhao, his interest in epigraphy continued to increase, and he became increasingly obsessed with it. The ambition to fulfill the world's ancient literary and wonderful characters" ("Preface to the Records of Jinshi"). The period of staying in Qingzhou and going out to Laizhou and Zizhou was the happiest period when Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao worked together to study knowledge. It was also the period when Zhao Mingcheng was most successful in his epigraphy career.
From the second year of Daguan (1108) to the third year of Xuanhe (1121), Zhao Mingcheng traveled around Yangtian Mountain, visited Lingyan Temple three times, and climbed Mount Taishan once. Either titles or rubbings, a large amount of inscription information was obtained. After years of personal visits to Guangji, and with the help of Li Qingzhao, Zhao Mingcheng completed the writing of "Inscriptions on Gold and Stone". This is a larger and more valuable monograph on epigraphy after Ouyang Xiu's "Collection of Ancient Records". The collection of inscriptions and stone rubbings, dating from the three dynasties to the Sui, Tang and Five dynasties, totaling 2,000 types. "Inscriptions on Gold and Stone" 30 volumes. The first 10 volumes are a catalogue, arranged in chronological order; the last 20 volumes include the inscriptions on the bells, tripods and Yi vessels and the inscriptions and epitaphs on stone inscriptions, with dialectical research and many revisions to the two "Books of the Tang Dynasty". It is a must-have book for the study of ancient epigraphy and stone carvings. .
[Edit this paragraph] The couple have similar interests
One day, Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao went out to play with their brother Li Jong, and met Li Qingzhao while enjoying the lanterns at Xiangguo Temple during the Lantern Festival. Zhao Mingcheng had read Li Qingzhao's poems a long time ago and had already admired them. When he saw them, he fell in love with them. After Zhao Mingcheng returned, he tactfully talked about the matter to his father using the anagram "Yan and Si were united, the clothes were removed, the clothes were pulled out". Zhao Tingzhi suddenly realized this and sent someone to propose marriage to Li Qingzhao.
After marriage, the two had a harmonious relationship and enjoyed collecting epigraphy, calligraphy and paintings. Later, due to political factors, Zhao's relatives were forced to live in seclusion in the countryside. Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao came to Qingzhou and settled down. The Zhao family has transformed from nobles to ordinary people, which is a blessing in disguise for them. They put all their energy into epigraphy, calligraphy, painting and antiques. Every time the Zhao couple got a strange book, they would collate it together, sort out the inscriptions, match the calligraphy and painting utensils, play with it carefully, and comment on each other. At the same time, the couple often sat in the Return Hall to make tea after meals. The two asked each other questions while pointing at the books in the room, and the one who guessed correctly drank tea first. Take pleasure in this. Zhao and Li also compared each other's literary talent. Li Qingzhao once wrote the poem "Drunken Flower Yin", of which the sentence "people are thinner than yellow flowers" is the most classic. Zhao Mingcheng was amazed after reading it. But he wanted to win, so he closed the door and thanked the guests, and spent three days forgetting food and sleep. Finally, he got fifty poems, which he asked people to evaluate. After tasting them, his friend said: "Only three lines are excellent." Zhao Mingcheng asked quickly which three lines they were. After his friend answered, Zhao Mingcheng couldn't help but be speechless. It turned out to be Li Qingzhao's "There is no way to destroy the soul, the west wind blows behind the curtain, and people are thinner than yellow flowers." Zhao Mingcheng admired his wife's talent and learning even more.
In March of the second year of Jingkang, Zhao Mingcheng went south to Jinling first to attend the funeral of his mother. He was appointed as the prefect of Jiangning. At this time, Li Qingzhao had returned to Qingzhou, sorting out the gold and stone cultural relics in the Return Hall, and preparing to meet with Zhao Mingcheng who was going south. In the end, 15 cars were selected and loaded, and the other items that were not taken away were locked in more than 10 rooms. However, the current situation was unstable. Not long after she left, a mutiny broke out in Qingzhou, and her family was destroyed by the war, which was heartbreaking.
Zhao Mingcheng only served as the prefect of Jiangning for one year before he was dismissed from office due to dereliction of duty. In February of the third year of Jianyan (1129), Wang Yi, the ruler of the imperial camp, rebelled. This incident was noticed by his subordinates and they reported it, but they did not take it seriously and did not take any action. The subordinates arranged their own formations and successfully defeated Wang Yi on the tenth day of the night. At dawn, his subordinates went to look for Zhao Mingcheng. But it was discovered that he had already escaped from the city wall using a rope.
Soon, Zhao Mingcheng took over the order and went to Huzhou to take office. When Zhao and Li separated, the situation was even worse. Li Qingzhao also knew that when husband and wife separated, they might encounter military disaster at any time. Her husband's cowardice during the mutiny also left a shadow in her heart. So she was even more worried that she couldn't protect so many objects, so she asked Zhao Mingcheng, what should she do if something unexpected happened? At that time, Zhao Mingcheng said that if something unexpected happened, he would throw away the luggage first, then the clothes, and then the books, scrolls and ancient utensils. The most precious "Zhao's Shenmiao Tie" collected by the couple should not be lost, unless it was absolutely necessary. He can only live and die with Li Qingzhao.
In 1129, Zhao Mingcheng died in Huzhou, and a happy marriage of nearly thirty years came to an end.