There was a man named Xu Wei in the Ming Dynasty. He is one of the three great talents in Ming Dynasty. He is also an all-rounder in poetry, drama, calligraphy, painting and military affairs. Even though his life is miserable, it cannot be described as a little miserable. He described himself as a psychopath in modern words, or manic+schizophrenic. Not everyone says that there is a fine line between genius and madness. There is a Van Gogh in the west, but in contrast, Xu Wei pays more attention to taste. Van Gogh cut off his ear and finally shot himself. Xu Wei committed suicide nine times, and each time it was extremely tragic.
Xu Wei (152 1- 1593) was born in Yin Shan (Shaoxing), a scholar-bureaucrat family. My childhood was still very rich, but my father died early and my mother was a concubine, so I was driven out of the house by the first house. Xu Wei was very clever when he was a child. He studied at the age of nine, wrote at the age of ten, and was a scholar in the twenty exams. However, when he later took part in the imperial examination, he behaved in a mess and failed repeatedly. But his circle of friends is still relatively high-end, such as Chen Chun, Xie, Shen Shi and Shen. In his contacts with these literati, Xu Wei became a wizard who was good at poetry, writing, calligraphy, painting, drama and even military strategy.
According to the normal way, Xu Wei has a bright future. He had to be appreciated by Hu Zongxian, the then anti-Japanese governor, and became his chief of staff. He also helped him in military strategy. Li, a student of Xu Wei, helped North Korea defeat the Japanese invaders.
Happiness is so short-lived. The fall of power Yan Song implicated Hu Zongxian. Hu Zongxian was promoted and recommended by Yan Song, and was regarded as a "strict party". He was hit and finally hanged himself in prison. Xu Wei was badly hit. On the one hand, he was implicated, on the other hand, he was framed by others. Moreover, Xu Wei himself is a little manic. The shock was too great for him, so he started his nine suicide trips.
The scene of Xu Wei's suicide is extremely tragic. According to "Biography of Wen Yuan in Ming Dynasty", he committed suicide nine times: once, he cut himself on the head with a sharp axe, "blood flowed and his skull was broken", but fortunately he did not die; Once again, he seems to be possessed by a ghost. He stabbed his left ear a few inches with a three-inch post, then hit the ground with his head and knocked the nail into his ear. He felt no pain and was not dead. Later, he hit his kidney capsule with a vertebral body, but he still didn't die. These cruel and extreme ways of suicide are far beyond people's imagination. Although he attempted suicide many times, Xu Wei's "heart disease" did not seem to be alleviated, and he killed his wife the next year.
Xu Wei killed his wife for a very important reason, which is one of the most unacceptable reasons for men in China-being green. Xu Wei's wife at that time was Zhang, that is, her stepfamily, and her feelings were not very good. Xu Wei's second son was an old man when he was born. Xu Wei was forty-two years old. When the eldest son was born, Wei Xu was not at home. Plus snapping fingers, Xu Wei left his wife on1February 25th before the Spring Festival, and his son was born on 1 1 February 4th. We usually say "pregnant in October", while the second son is eleven months and nine days. It seems that the timing is not right. Xu Wei accidentally killed his wife in a rage and went to prison.
In any case, Xu Wei's killing of his wife is indeed one of the important turning points of his fate. In prison, Xu Wei devoted himself to painting and made great progress in his skills. How good are Xu Wei's paintings?
Xu Wei is recognized as the originator of "Green Painting School". His ink painting is even more bold and innovative, which can be described as supercilious, regardless of ancient and modern times, forming a bold and vigorous painting style, changing the natural and elegant style of Wu Pai flower-and-bird painting, combining poetry with vigorous and unrestrained calligraphy, and becoming the most accomplished master of freehand brushwork painting at that time.
His poems on paintings are also quite distinctive, in which he often reveals his heartfelt feelings, expressing that "there is an indelible breath in his chest, and the hero has lost his way and has no way to support him." Later generations of Badashanren, Shi Tao, Yangzhou Baguai, Wu Changshuo and Qi Baishi were all deeply influenced by it, and Xu Wei's style can be seen in many of their works.
In his later years, Xu Wei was at odds with his son and had no livelihood. He can only make a living by selling calligraphy and painting. But he hates powerful people. Rich people never go to parties. Finally, 72-year-old Xu Wei died in his shabby hut, messy straw and an old dog who had been with him for several years. Outside the door, there is a couplet that has been passed down through the ages: "A few rickety houses, a southern accent."
In fact, Xu Wei is very similar to Van Gogh. Their lives are miserable. It is said that both of them are mentally ill. The most similar thing is that their works are recognized by the world after death. Zheng Banqiao is willing to pay 500 gold for a pomegranate of Xu Wei, and is willing to be a running dog under the Ivy, and engrave the seal of "running dog under the Ivy" on the painting. Qi Baishi, a master of Chinese painting, claimed to be "heartless, polishing paper for the green vine 300 years ago".
Xu Wei can be said to be a new breakthrough of freehand brushwork style in the history of China painting, and a great embodiment of the high development of China's painting image, which is also the reason why he became a great painter.