Wang Taku

The first Chinese calligrapher and painter in the late Ming and Qing dynasties. A native of Mengjin (Henan Province). His pen name was Juesi, and his pen names were Songqiao and Sekiqiao. In 1622 (Tianqi 2), he passed the Jinshi examination. He served both the Ming and Qing dynasties, and rose to the high ranks of Dongge Daishi and Minister of Rites. He was erudite and skilled in poetry, prose, calligraphy, and painting, but his calligraphy was especially renowned. He looked to Zhong Yao for his style of regular script and the two kings (Xizhi and Xianzhi) for his style of running and cursive, and it is said that he never neglected to copy their works throughout his life. However, his copying of calligraphy was purely based on his own ideas, and in running and cursive, he used his brushstrokes in a free and unrestrained manner that expressed his passion and spirit, establishing a style of intense continuous cursive writing. He was also skilled in landscape painting and orchid bamboo painting. He was highly acclaimed from his time, and many of his paintings and calligraphy are still preserved today, including his hōjō (classical Japanese calligraphy) "Gisan-en-chō."

[Hiroshi Kakui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、明(みん)末清(しん)初の書画家。孟津(もうしん)（河南省）の人。字(あざな)は覚斯(かくし)、号は嵩樵(すうしょう)、石樵。1622年（天啓2）進士に合格。明清両朝に仕え、東閣大学士、礼部尚書の高位に上った。博学で詩文、書画いずれもよくしたが、とりわけ書名はもっとも高かった。彼は、楷書(かいしょ)は鍾繇(しょうよう)、行草は二王（羲之(ぎし)・献之(けんし)）に範を求め、終生臨模(りんも)を怠らなかったという。しかし、彼の臨書は意臨に徹したもので、行草においては情熱や意気そのままに自由奔放な筆を振るい、激しい連綿草の一様式を樹立した。また画技においては山水、蘭竹(らんちく)に長じていた。当時から評判高く、いまも多くの書画作品が伝えられており、法帖(ほうじょう)『擬山園帖』も刊行されている。

［角井　博］

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