Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
July 29, 2014 (Tue) - September 28, 2014 (Sun)
Zhao Zhiqian (1829-84) was born into a wealthy merchant family in Shaoxing of Zhejiang province. While still a child, his family lost its fortune and he was left in poverty. Supporting himself through painting, calligraphy, and seal engraving, he studied vigorously and passed - with the third rank - the first stage of the imperial civil service examinations at the age of 31.
Around this time, the civil war known as the Taiping Rebellion reached its peak. Although Zhiqian was able to find refuge in places such as Wenzhou (Zhejiang province) and Fuzhou (Fujian province), his home in Shaoxing was burnt down and he lost his wife and daughters. Out of despair for the loss of his family, he changed his pen name to "Bei'an" at the age of 34. The following year, he traveled to Beijing to take the second stage of the civil service examinations. There he befriended like-minded scholars such as Hu Shu (1825-72), Shen Shuyong (1832-73) and Wei Xizeng (1828-1881), and became immersed in the epigraphic studies that were popular at the time. However, he abandoned his goal of becoming a high-ranking government bureaucrat after repeatedly failing the examinations. At the age of 44 he was given a post in Jiangxi as a regional government official, but passed away at the age of 56 due to overwork.
Zhiqian was inspired by calligraphy of the Northern Wei dynasty (386-534), successfully incorporating it into his works through unique interpretations. Creating a new form of expression known as "Northern Wei Calligraphy," he became active as a central figure of the "Stele School" of calligraphy, which was popular during the latter half of the Qin dynasty (1644-1912). His style was inherited by Japanese calligraphy circles and many were influenced by its distinctive form.
This 12th collaborative exhibition between the Tokyo National Museum and the Taito City Calligraphy Museum will introduce Zhiqian's life and career through his calligraphy, paintings, and seal engravings - all from Japanese collections - as well as through rubbings of the Northern Wei dynasty engravings from which he learned. We invite visitors to enjoy the beauty of Zhiqian's art to the fullest.