Zhang Zhi (calligrapher)

Zhang Zhi (simplified Chinese: 张芝; traditional Chinese: 張芝; pinyin: Zhāng Zhī; Wade–Giles: Chang Chih, died 192), courtesy name Boying (伯英), was a Chinese calligrapher during the Han dynasty. Born in Jiuquan, Gansu,^[1] he was a pioneer of the modern cursive script, and was traditionally honored as the Sage of Cursive Script (草聖).^[2] Furthermore, he is known as one of the Four Talented Calligraphers (四賢) in Chinese calligraphy.^[3]

Biography

Zhang Zhi was the eldest son of Zhang Huan (张奂; 104-181^[4]), a military general; Zhang Zhi's younger brother Zhang Chang (张昶) was also a well-known calligrapher.^[5]

Despite the great fame he enjoyed in ancient times, no veritable works of Zhang Zhi's have survived. A catchphrase is attributed to him: "Too busy to write cursively" (匆匆不暇草書),^[6] which shows that the execution of cursive script, though originally invented for the sake of time-saving, requires a tranquil frame of mind.^[7]

References

^ This is per Zhang Huan's biography in Houhanshu. According to Qing-era scholar Qian Daxin, the Zhang family was from Yuanquan (渊泉). In his annotations to Zizhi Tongjian, Hu Sanxing wrote (in vol.56) that Zhang Huan was from Yuanquan (奂，炖煌渊泉人。).
^ Poon, KS Vincent. "Zhang Zhi 張芝法帖 Translation Interpretation". Vincent's Calligraphy. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
^ "A Narrative on Calligraphy". Vincent's Calligraphy. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
^ (光和四年卒，年七十八。) Houhanshu, vol.65
^ ([奂]长子芝，字伯英，最知名。芝及弟昶，字文舒，并善草书，至今称传之。) Houhanshu, vol.65
^ There is a similar Chinese proverb: "Too hasty to write in cursive script; too impoverished to prepare a vegetarian meal." (信速不及草書，家貧難辦素食) Compare the well-known quote by Pascal: "Je n'ai fait celle-ci plus longue que parce que je n'ai pas eu le loisir de la faire plus courte." (in Lettres provinciales)
^ "Footnotes on A Narrative on Calligraphy Part V". Vincent's Calligraphy. Retrieved 2017-11-15.

Bibliography

Zhong, Mingshan, ""Zhang Zhi". Encyclopedia of China (Arts Edition), 1st ed.

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[1] This is per Zhang Huan's biography in Houhanshu. According to Qing-era scholar Qian Daxin, the Zhang family was from Yuanquan (渊泉). In his annotations to Zizhi Tongjian, Hu Sanxing wrote (in vol.56) that Zhang Huan was from Yuanquan (奂，炖煌渊泉人。).

[2] Poon, KS Vincent. "Zhang Zhi 張芝法帖 Translation Interpretation". Vincent's Calligraphy. Retrieved 2021-03-05.

[3] "A Narrative on Calligraphy". Vincent's Calligraphy. Retrieved 2017-11-15.

[4] (光和四年卒，年七十八。) Houhanshu, vol.65

[5] ([奂]长子芝，字伯英，最知名。芝及弟昶，字文舒，并善草书，至今称传之。) Houhanshu, vol.65

[6] There is a similar Chinese proverb: "Too hasty to write in cursive script; too impoverished to prepare a vegetarian meal." (信速不及草書，家貧難辦素食) Compare the well-known quote by Pascal: "Je n'ai fait celle-ci plus longue que parce que je n'ai pas eu le loisir de la faire plus courte." (in Lettres provinciales)

[7] "Footnotes on A Narrative on Calligraphy Part V". Vincent's Calligraphy. Retrieved 2017-11-15.

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