Biography of Dong Qichang - "History of the Ming Dynasty" Volume 288
Explanation that Dong Qichang (1555-1636), also known as Xuanzai, also known as Sibai, also known as Xiangguang Jushi, Huating (today's Huating) A native of Songjiang County, Shanghai, he became a Jinshi in the 17th year of Wanli's reign. He passed various official positions, including Xiu of the Linyuan Academy, Deputy Envoy of Huguang, Academic Affairs of Huguang, Taichang Qing, Left and Right Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites of Nanjing.
Dong Qichang was a famous calligrapher and painter in the late Ming Dynasty. In his calligraphy, he first learned from Mi Fu, then from the Tang Dynasty, and traced back to the Wei and Jin Dynasties, forming his own unique calligraphy style. His calligraphy works are elegant, elegant and well-organized, and had a great influence on the calligraphy world in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. There are many engraved calligraphy scripts in existence, including "Xiaoyu Yantang Calligraphy", "Ji Gutang Calligraphy", "Shu Zhongtang Calligraphy", "Lai Zhonglou Fa Calligraphy", "Shichuntang Calligraphy" and so on. Famous works include "Shao Kangjie's Unknown Minister Bingcheng Zhuzan", "The Book of Filial Piety", "Books on the Ancients", "Zhuan Zan", etc. He specializes in landscape painting, learning from Dong Yuan, Ju Ran, Huang Gongwang, Zhang Zan, etc. He does not emphasize realism, and his painting style is clear, moist and elegant. It is a kind of prejudice to flaunt morale in paintings and divide ancient landscape painters into Northern and Southern sects, praising the Southern sect and devaluing the Northern sect. He is the author of "Essays on Painting Zen Rooms", "Collected Works of Rongtai", etc.
Because Dong Qichang was famous for his calligraphy and painting, there were many requests for calligraphy and painting. He often hired ghostwriters, so there are many forgeries in existence. At that time, people who were also famous for calligraphy include: Mo Ruzhong from Huating, Mo Shilong and his son, Xing Tong from Linyi and his sister Cijing, Mi Wanzhong from Shuntian, Zhang Ruitu from Jinjiang, etc., appended to the "Biography of Dong Qichang" , translated together now. Dong Qichang, courtesy name Xuanzai, was a native of Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture. In the 17th year of Wanli's reign, he passed the Jinshi examination and was changed to Shujishi. Tian Yijun, the Minister of Rites, taught the common people and died in his post. Dong Qichang asked for leave and traveled thousands of miles to escort Tian Yijun's coffin back to his hometown for burial. After returning, he was appointed as editor. The emperor's eldest son went to school, and Dong Qichang acted as a lecturer. He used historical events in his lectures to inspire and guide him at any time, and the emperor's eldest son would give him a knowing glance from time to time.
Because Dong Qichang did not act according to the will of the ruling minister, he was appointed as the deputy envoy to Huguang. Dong Qichang claimed to be ill and returned to his hometown. Later he was appointed, and the official got his original position, admiral of Huguang's academic affairs. Because he opened the back door for selfish reasons, he was resented by powerful people. They instigated hundreds of scholars to cause trouble and destroyed his yamen. Dong Qichang immediately reported to the court and requested to resign, but the emperor did not allow it and ordered the relevant departments to examine and punish the troubled students. Dong Qichang finally resigned and returned to his hometown. The imperial court appointed him as deputy envoy to Shandong, prepared troops in Denglai, and participated in politics in Henan, but he did not take up the post. After Guangzong ascended the throne, he asked: "Where is Mr. Dong Qichang, the original official, now?" So the imperial court recruited him as Taichang Shaoqing, in charge of the affairs of the country.
In the second year of Tianqi's reign, he was promoted to Taichang Qing and concurrently studied as a bachelor. At that time, he was compiling "Records of Shenzong" and sent him to the south to collect memorials and anecdotes from ministers of the Shenzong Dynasty. Dong Qichang collected literary affairs and recorded as many as three hundred books. He also selected the discussions on princes, vassals, talents, customs, rivers and canals, food and goods, official administration, and border defense from the unapproved memorials, divided them into categories, and recorded them in forty volumes.