The Research Of Ming Dynasty Female Calligrapher’ Calligraphy Works

The number of women skilled in calligraphy painting in Ming dynasty greatly increased than before,especially in the late Ming dynasty,which continued until Qing dynasty.Such female cultural scene is a unique landscape in the history of Chinese painting and calligraphy,which is not seen after mid Qing dynasty.Influenced by the thoughts of individuality liberation,the late Ming dynasty calligraphy style became romantic.The famous calligrapher XingCiJing,Cai Yuqing,Huang Yuanjie and Wang Duanshu all born after Wanli period,the famous prostitutes were also active in the late Ming Dynasty,for example,Lin Nuer,active in Chenghua period,Ma Xianglan active during the years of Jiajing、Longqing and Wanli periods.Others,such as Liu Rushi、Gu Hengbo and Li Xiangjun,all active after Wanli.The majority of female calligraphers in Ming dynasty were in the late Ming dynasty.Moreover,the active female calligraphy atmosphere could be explained much by the calligraphy style after Wanli period reflecting individuality liberation,which was also considered to be in accord with the development of politics,economy,culture and literature trend.Very few of Female calligraphers’ calligraphy works in Ming dynasty have remained.Through Yutaishushi and Yutaihuashi——books about the history of Chinese female calligraphers and painters——and other materials about the Ming dynasty female calligraphers,it can be seen that 84 female calligraphers were recorded,but only 15 female calligraphers’ works are preserved till now.A lot of women in the Ming dynasty were good at painting,therefore,this paper chooses female calligraphers from painting bibliography.The selected criteria of female calligraphers depends on the exsiting comments in books,if related comments are recorded in references,they will be discussed in the paper.From a female calligrapher’s inscription and annotations,it can analyze her calligraphy style.Because of the lack of materials,the study of women calligraphy in Ming dynasty is rarely seen.This paper aims to study their calligraphy style,features and achievements,and then have a whole understanding of female calligraphers’ works in the Ming dynasty.