Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368)

 

Yuan Dynasty Territory

 

As the Sung Dynasty’s military power was declining, the Sung soldiers were even defeated by the minority races from the north of its territory. In 1127, the Sung Dynasty had to move to the south. It was then called the South Sung. Later the South Sung was conquered by the Mongolian. The Mongolian ruled over the Han people and established the Yuan Dynasty.

 

During the Yuan Dynasty’s short span of life, there were only two renowned calligraphers: Xien-Yu Su (who died at only 40 years old) and Zhao Meng-Fu. Zhao Meng-Fu was ambitious to revitalize calligraphy styles of the Jin and Tang Dynasties while Xien-Yu Su was focusing on creating a new personal style.

 

 

·        Xien-Yu Su   鮮 于 樞 (1257-1302): He studied Zhang Tien-Si’s work first, then the calligraphy works  of the Jin & Tang Dynasties to establish his style. He inherited the spirit of the Two Wangs (Wang Hsi-Chih and his son, Wang Hsian-Chih.)

 

XienYuSu1.jpg (24844 bytes)    XienYuSu2.jpg (77151 bytes)

 

 

·        Zhao Meng-Fu 趙 孟 頫 (1254-1322): He was famous for various styles. He was a descendant of the royal family of the Sung Dynasty. He had great influence on later calligraphers in the Ming Dynasty. He and Xien-Yu Su deeply respected each other's achievement.

 

Zao 1.jpg (72213 bytes)    ZaoMengFu2.jpg (56309 bytes)    ZaoMengFu1.jpg (27096 bytes)

 

Zao 2 (a).jpg (243843 bytes)

 

Zao 2 (b).jpg (247502 bytes)

 

Buddhist  Heart Sutra

 

·        Yu He 俞 和 (1307-1382): He had an excellent emulation work of Wang Hsi-Chih’s Lang Ting Prologue. He also specialized in small-scale calligraphy that deeply influenced Zhao Meng-Fu.

 

 

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