Art Museum of Zhao Mengfu
2 min readSituated at the former residence site of Zhao Mengfu about 1,000 meters away from Lotus Villa Garden, the art museum covers an area of 4,500 square meters with a floor space of 2,000 square metres. The art museum modelled after the building style of the Song Dynasty took shape in the year of 2011.
Zhao Mengfu(1254-1322), who styled himself Zi’ ang, was also known by his literary name Song Xue(Pine Snow), alias Ou Bo(Gull Wave), and Shuijinggong Daoren (Taoist of the Water Spirit Palace), etc. Hewas the 1lth generation descendant of Zhao Kuangyin, the first Emperor of the Song Dynasty. With the decline and fall of the Song Dynasty and therise of the Yuan Dynasty, he took up the post of Weiguogong(the duke of Wei that was among the highest official rank in imperial China conferred by the emperor). Although Zhao Mengfu was hesitated, yet he had his own aspiration and interests.
Zhao Mengfu was one of the four great calligraphers in Chinese history, and he devoted himself to the creations of art and literature. He fullydeveloped his powerful innate endowment in painting and writing. He was skilled at drawing figures, horses, birds, flowers and landscapes. He was also an adept in many styles of calligraphy, such as seal character, official script, running script, regular script and cursive hand. Moreover, he wasvery proficient in poetic prose, textology, Buddhism, Taoism, melody, seal cutting and the appreciation of painting and writing. As the leader of the Renaissance in the early Yuan Dynasty, he had a high spirit of revolution despite of the times and conditions that were suitable or not. Zhao opened anew era in calligraphy of art by restoring the writing styles of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi. From the point of view in art, he was definitely crowned with the title of Art Master at any times, even if he lived in the time of 600 years ago. In addition, he was posthumously given the title”Wenmin”(perspicacity in culture). Rise and fall through ages, all became formless eventually. What he had been influenced and touched was only his life-experiences. Facing the change of political situation, Zhao held on his own faith and tried to break through the old regulations and the outmoded conventions. He tried to shoulder the responsibility and the mission ofcultural reformation, but he knew clearly what he could, and not. He just flew against wind like a brave gull.
Zhao Mengfu’s Art Museum has five parts that unfold Zhao’s rich life from the childhood to the aged. It is a cultural tourist spot blended with art display, art appreciation and artistic exchange.
