Zheng Xie (; 1693–1765), commonly known as Zheng Banqiao () was a Chinese painter from

Jiangsu Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, Postal romanization, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an Eastern China, eastern coastal Provinces of the People's Republic of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China. It is o ...

. He began life in poverty, but rose in the exam system to become a magistrate at

Shandong Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...

. However, after 12 years, he became critical of the life of an official as he refused to ingratiate himself with senior officials. When he was reportedly criticized for building a shelter for the poor, he resigned. After that, he expressed himself in art and became one of the

Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou () is the name for a group of eight Chinese painters active in the eighteenth-century, who were known in the Qing Dynasty for rejecting the orthodox ideas about painting in favor of a style deemed expressive and indivi ...

. He was noted for his drawing of orchids, bamboo, and stones. In 1748 he briefly resumed an official career as "official calligrapher and painter" for the

Qianlong Emperor The Qianlong Emperor (25 September 17117 February 1799), also known by his temple name Emperor Gaozong of Qing, born Hongli, was the fifth Emperor of the Qing dynasty and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigning from 1735 t ...

. Zheng was also a calligrapher who created a new calligraphy style influenced by his orchid drawings. Added to this, he had an interest in literature and poetry. He preferred to write about ordinary people in a natural style. Caligraphical work of Zheng Xie

References

External links

Zheng Xie and his Painting Gallery
at China Online Museum
Zhang Xie in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, New YorkTranslation of “Letter to younger brother Zhèng Mò” by Zhèng Bǎnqiáo
1693 births 1765 deaths 18th-century LGBT people Gay artists Gay writers Chinese LGBT writers Painters from Taizhou, Jiangsu Politicians from Taizhou, Jiangsu Qing dynasty calligraphers Qing dynasty painters Qing dynasty politicians from Jiangsu {{China-painter-stub