Dong Qichang is known as "Xing Zhang Mi Dong" in calligraphy, which means he is ranked with Linyi Xing Dong, Jinjiang Zhang Ruitu and Xutian Mi Zhong. When he was 17 years old, he began to learn calligraphy and wrote Yan Zhenqing's "Pagoda of Many Treasures". When he was 22 years old, he learned painting from Huang Gongwang. Later, he studied from various schools. This practice of learning from the ancients continued for 80 years and stayed with him throughout his life. He extensively absorbed the strengths of various schools of thought in the Tang, Song and Yuan dynasties and made careful explorations, which enabled him to achieve artistic achievements in calligraphy and painting that surpassed those of the ancients.
"Eight Poems of the Tian Family"
Author: Chu Guangxi