A Study on the Establishment of Dong Qichangʼs “Huachanshi Studioʼs Essays”

Abstract

  To date, the “Huachanshi Studio's Essays” compiled by his successors has been widely used to elucidate Dong Qichang's (1555-1636) views on calligraphy and painting. However, there are many unclear points regarding the source, compilation status, and date of establishment of this document, making it necessary to consider its reliability. This paper dealt with volume 1 of this document, which discusses calligraphy, and examined the above issues by comparing it with his manuscripts and copybooks, his descendant's compilation “Rongtaibieji” (first edition, 1630), and an abridged copy (1663) by Zha Shibiao (1615-1698) of Dong Qichang's “Theories on calligraphy and painting, running script” (1591, in the collection of National Palace Museum, Beijing).

  Regarding the sources of “Huachanshi Studio's Essays,” it was confirmed that there are those directly quoted from his manuscripts and copybooks (or related materials) and those directly quoted from “Rongtaibieji” (or related materials), with the former being the most common.

  In terms of the compilation process, it is assumed that the editors of this document edited the material they were able to collect without losing too much of the coherence of the original source material and by eliminating Dong Qichang's frank statements and duplicated descriptions. It is also assumed that the amount and consistency of the content was taken into consideration, and the existence of a specific intention on the part of the editors could not be confirmed.

  As for the date of establishment of the document, since there are descriptions in Zha Shibiao abridgment that are not found in this document or the current “Theories on calligraphy and painting, running script,” it is assumed that “Theories on calligraphy and painting, running script” was partially lost in the past, Zha Shibiao abridgment was written before that, and this document was quoted and established after that time. Considering the existence of the earliest existing copy of this document, Wang Rulu's published book (dated 1678), it is believed that at least the first volume of this document was produced between 1663 and 1678.