Tomb of Wang Shimu

Tomb of Wang Shimu

The Tomb of Wang Shimu is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

The Tomb of Wang Shimu is located at Chengjiaqiao outside the west gate of Changshu city proper, adjacent to Shanqiantang. The tomb faces south and covers an area of 413 square meters. The earthen mound has a diameter of 3.1 meters and a height of 1.2 meters, surrounded by an enclosing wall with a worship platform and tomb gate. One stele stands in front of and one behind the mound. The rear stele was erected during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, inscribed with: “The Imperial Qing Tomb of the Late Scholar and Ancestors, Mr. Shi Gu and his wife Madam Qian, Jointly Buried Here.” The front stele was added during the 1909 tomb restoration, inscribed with “Tomb of Mr. Wang Shimu, the Sage of Qing Painting,” written by Weng Tonghe. Wang Shimu (1632–1717), also known as Shi Gu, with the courtesy names Gengyan Sanren and Qinghui Zhuren, among others, was a native of Changshu. He was a renowned painter of the early Qing Dynasty, one of the “Four Wangs” and one of the “Six Great Masters of Early Qing,” as well as the founder of the Yushan Painting School. He was summoned to the imperial court to oversee the painting of the “Southern Inspection Tour of Emperor Kangxi.” The tomb’s approach path is over 20 meters long, featuring a single-bay, upright stone memorial archway. This tomb was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit on August 30, 1957.

Wang Shimu (April 10, 1632 – November 15, 1717), courtesy name Shi Gu, also known by the art names Gengyan Sanren, Jianmen Qiaoke, Wumu Shanren, and Qinghui Laoren, was a native of Changshu, Jiangsu. He was a celebrated painter of the Qing Dynasty, referred to as the “Sage of Early Qing Painting.” Together with Wang Jian, Wang Shimin, and Wang Yuanqi, he was known as one of the “Four Wangs” of landscape painting. His painting philosophy advocated “using the brushwork of Yuan artists, incorporating the compositional techniques of Song painters, and enhancing them with the vitality of artistic expression.”

Wang Shimu developed a passion for painting from childhood, inheriting family artistic traditions and studying under fellow townsman Zhang Ke, who specialized in the style of Huang Gongwang. He displayed remarkable talent in painting at an early age. Wang Shimu studied under Wang Shimin and Wang Jian... More details about Wang Shimu ++

Further Reading:

· First and Second Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units