Tomb of Wen Zhengming

Tomb of Wen Zhengming

The Tomb of Wen Zhengming is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

The Tomb of Wen Huizhong is located at Lijia Hong in Wenling Village, Lumu Town, Wuxian District, Suzhou City.

The Tomb of Wen Huizhong is located at Lijia Hong in Wenling Village, Lumu Town, Wuxian District, Suzhou City. The tomb chamber is well-preserved, with an earthen mound approximately 1 meter high. In front of the tomb lies a reflecting pool. In 1984, stone carvings such as stone horses and stone tigers discovered at Likou were transported to the tomb site for temporary preservation, and the burial mound was restored.

Wen Huizhong (1470–1559), originally named Bi, styled Huizhong, later changed his courtesy name to Zhengzhong and adopted the sobriquet Master Hengshan. He was a native of Changzhou (now Wuxian City) and a renowned painter and calligrapher of the Ming Dynasty. At the age of 54, he was recommended as a tribute student and appointed as a Hanlin Academy attendant. He resigned after three years. Together with Shen Zhou, Tang Yin, and Qiu Ying, he is known as one of the “Four Masters of the Ming Dynasty.” He was an important member of the “Wumen School of Painting.” In his early years, he studied prose under Wu Kuan, calligraphy under Li Yingzhen, and learned from the Two Wangs (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi) and Zhong Yao (Zhong You); for painting, he studied under Shen Zhou; and later specialized in the painting styles of Guo Xi and Zhao Mengfu. His works of landscapes, flowers and birds, bamboo, and fruit are all exquisitely crafted, excelling in fine detail, and hold a unique place in the history of Chinese painting.

Further Reading:

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