Abstract
The copy of Lan ting xu by Zhao Mengfu is included in Lan ting shi san ba. Lan ting
xu is a masterpiece by Wan Xizhi, who is a calligrapher referred to as 書聖 (“a great
calligrapher”). This calligraphy work was widely disseminated after the Tang dynasty.
Most studies on Lan ting shi san ba have discussed the connections between Zhao
Mengfu and Wan Xizhi from the contents of the text. In addition, the style of calligraphy
has been emphasized.
The purpose of this report is to examine the characteristics of molding in the
calligraphy work of Zhao Mengfu. Furthermore, this study aims to reconsider Zhao
Mengfu’s position in Chinese calligraphy history.
Result of the molding analysis suggests that Zhao Mengfu understood the calligraphy
work of Wan Xizhi as a mix between the calligraphy style of the Tang dynasty and
that of the Song dynasty. Therefore, Zhao Mengfu can be seen as a calligrapher who
generated a new image of Wan Xizhi’s calligraphy during the Yuan dynasty.
