This book consists of four independent yet progressive chapters. The first chapter starts with the life story of Dong Qichang, analyzing the reason why he chose art instead of politics under the sophisticated social background of the late Ming Dynasty. Mainly included in this chapter are the public morals of the late Ming Dynasty, circulation of calligraphy works and paintings, appraisal between true and false, and other contents. The second chapter relates Dong Qichang’s artistic life at his hometown. Although many of his appraisal work did have something to do with his official career, it was his life out of office that truly mattered. He used to invite his friends over to join the tasteful appraisal gatherings held in the luxurious gardens and mansions he built in Songjiang. Among all his collections, Dong Yuan’s works played a critical role. The third chapter discusses Dong Qichang’s view of calligraphy, which emphasizes his attention to regular script in small characters and his worship to artists of Jin Dynasty, by studying the engraving of Xi Hong Tang Tie. Through relevant meticulous study, he revealed the origin and evolution of calligraphy collection in the late Ming Dynasty. The last chapter relates the relationship between his sightseeing tours and appraisal of calligraphy works and paintings, and explores his understanding of calligraphy and painting arts as well as how he developed his own artistic view by studying his artistic communication with Chen Jiru, Wu Zhengzhi and other artists.

Xiaojun YAN, born in 1982, graduated from China Academy of Art, Doctor of Art History. He’s been engaged in the study of the Chinese painting and calligraphy creation and research, focused on the history of ancient Chinese art, especially Dong Qichang and Yuan, Ming and Qing art.