Chinese Art Chinese Painting

Xu Wei Wikipedia

Image:Xu Wei1.jpg|right|200px

X?? W??i (徐渭) (1521 - 1593) was a Ming Dynasty|Ming Chinese painter famed for his rapid and expressive strokes. Xu died in poverty after an attempted murder and several attempts at suicide.

• Courtesy names: Wenqing (文清), then Wenchang (文長)

• Sobriquets:

• * The Mountain-man of Heavenly Pond (天池山人 Tiānch?? Shānr??n)

• * The Resident of the Green Vine House (青藤居士 Qīngt??ng Jūsh??)

• * The Water and Moon of the Bureau's Farm (署田水月 Shǔti??n Shuǐ Yu??).

Born in Shanying District (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province), Xu was raised by a single mother who died when he was 14. At 21, he married Pan-shi (潘氏), who died five years later. Xu attempted to pass the civil service examinations eight times, although he never succeeded. Nevertheless, Xu was employed by Hu Zongxian (胡宗憲).

After Hu was arrested for being related to Yan Song and committed suicide, Xu also attempted to commit suicide nine times, such as by axeing himself in the skull and drilling both of his ears. He also tried to kill his wife Zhang-shi (張氏) after becoming paranoid that she was having an affair. For his attempted murder, he was jailed for seven years until his friend Zhang Yuanbian (張元忭) from the Hanlin Imperial Academy managed to get him out at the age of 53.

Xu spent the rest of his life painting, but with little financial success. However, his paintings have been highly sought after in modern times.

In addition to being a painter, Xu was a relatively unknown playwright, writing the following plays:

• Mulan, a woman (雌木蘭 Ci Mulan): describes Hua Mulan

• The Woman Best-Scholar (女狀元 N??zhuangyuan): The adventures of the intelligent Huang Chongjia (黃崇嘏)

• The History of the Mad Drum (狂鼓史 Kuanggu Shi): crimes of Cao Cao

• The Dream of the Jade Town (翠鄉夢 Cuixiang Meng): a Buddhist story

Category:Chinese painters
zh:徐渭

Last Modified:   2005-02-26