Zhao Mengfu's Evaluation Of The Great Changes In Ming Dynasty

Zhao Mengfu and his calligraphy had high reputations,and they had largely influenced the calligraphers in China during the whole Yuan dynasty.In the early period of China's Ming Dynasty,Zhao?s calligraphy was still popular.And the main assessment of Zhao?s calligraphy was positive.At that time,calligraphy was still influenced by Yuan dynasty.There are several other reasons influenced the calligraphy,including empire?s preference,the officialese style of the Ming Dynasty and government?s restraint policy.In the Mid Ming Dynasty,Wu Men calligraphy genre started to enter historical arena.Li Yingzhen,the predecessor of Wu Men,had put forward a statement that Zhao?s calligraphy belonged to servant calligraphy.And his statement had a huge influence to later generations.However,the leaders of Wu Men,such as Wen Zhengming and Zhu Yunming,did not agreed with Li's opinion,and they had the attitude that Zhao's calligraphy was worth to learn.They thought that Zhao's calligraphy should be comprehended.As a result,Wu Men calligraphy genre which was leaded by Wen and Zhu thought highly of Zhao's calligraphy,and frequently learnt Zhao's calligraphy.When Yun Jian calligraphy genre came out,Mo Yunqin's critical attitude towards Zhao Mengfu had a great influence on Dong Qichang.However,Dong Qichang's attitude towards Zhao had always changed and it became positive with age.It?s interesting to find out why Dong Qichang's attitude changed all the time.In the mid-late Ming dynasty,the general attitude towards Zhao Mengfu remained critical,and supported by more and more people.This situation is connected with the social morality and aesthetics standard of calligraphers in the late Ming dynasty.The evaluation of Zhao Mengfu which changed from positive to negative reflects the change of the style of calligraphy and aesthetics standard of calligraphers.