Zhu Yunming (1460-1526)

ink on paper
signed Zhishan Yunming, with a dedication, two seals of the artist Zhu Yunming yin and Zhishan Zhu shi, and a total of twenty-seven collects ors' seals, title slip by the established scholar and collects or Zhang Tingji (1768-1848), titled Zhu Jingzhao shuyi ji ('Zhu Jingzhao's Notes on Strange Stories')

In very good condition. There is a small 1.5 inch tear to the mounting on the right side. Very minor paper loss to left side of calligraphy. Good old mount. The ink is vibrant and in good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any stat.mes nt made by Replica Shoes 's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The first section of the scroll is composed of excerpts from the famous Shi Yi Ji ('Notes on Strange Stories'), a ten-volume book on various unofficial historical and mythical stories, written by Wang Jia of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420 A.D.). The latter section includes Dongnanxing yibai yun ('A Hundred Poems'), by the Tang poet Bai Juyi (772-846).   

Annotated successively by the noted early Qing dynasty critic and calligrapher Yang Bin, dated ding you, 1717, followed by Suzhou connoisseur and collects or Cao Zaikui (1782-1852), dated xin chou, the twenty-first year of the Daoguang reign, 1841, and Cao's friend Zhang Tingji, who wrote upon Cao's request, dated jia chen, 1844. Zhang's annotation reveals that the scroll was then in Cao Zaikui's collects ion. collects ors' seals also include some important 17th to early 20th century collects ors, such as Geng Zhaozhong (1640 - 1686), Shen Shuyong (1832 - 1873) and Chen Kuilin (1855 - after 1915).

Zhu Yunming, born in Wuxian, Jiangsu Province, is considered one of the 'Four Gifted Literatus of Wuzhong' along with Xu Zhenqing, Tang Yin and Wen Zhenming. The subject matter of the present piece, Notes of Strange Stories, is a personal favorite of the calligrapher, as he himself also wrote a book of a similar nature named Zhiguai lu ('Records of Strange Stories').

A child prodigy -- he produced calligraphy of large sizes at the age of five and compose poems at the age of nine -- Zhu studied and learned from the work of the ancient great masters Wang Xizhi (c. 321 - 379), Huaisu (725 - 785) and Huang Tingjian (1045 - 1105). He eventually established distinguished styles of his own in all scripts, in particular the cursive or grass style.

He was also accomplished in the running script, as demonstrated in the present rare handscroll with over five thousand characters. It was dedicated to a friend who, for three years, had asked Zhu to create for him a running script piece. Zhu was satisfied with the result, as he states at the end of the present work that "though upon request, I have really put my heart into writing it." Both Yang Bin and Cao Zaikui state in their annotations the rarity of the piece, as "his cursive script is more often seen, but rarely running script in such size."