Sun Shenxing

CHINA, Jiangsu, Changzhou; Ming dynasty

Also known as Wen Si or Qi’ao, Sun Shenxing was a calligrapher and politician born in Wujin (present day Changzhou, Jiangsu). He was the grandson of the famous literati Tang Shunzhi, who greatly influenced Sun’s knowledgeable and courteous persona. He was adept in poetry and essay writing, his words deemed as irreproachable and highly regarded in the circle of Confucian literature. Sun became an Imperial Scholar in 1595, and held various high official positions in addition to working as a lecturer at the Donglin Academy.
Also an excellent calligrapher, Sun studied under renowned masters Huang Tingjian and Li Yong. His style was influenced by Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan. Both his running and cursive scripts were blunt with vigorous strokes. Sun did not confine himself to any rules; instead, his style is one of natural flow and composure. His most notable work, Enlightenment Verses of the Seven Buddhas, formatted as a set of eight hanging scrolls, is now kept at the Changzhou Museum in Jiangsu.