Ink on gold-flecked paper 34*44.2 cm

Wang Shizhen (1526-1590), also known by his zi (courtesy name) Yuanmei and his hao (literary names) Fengzhou and Yanzhou Hermit, was a native of Taicang, Jiangsu province. A jinshi graduate of the Jiajing reign (1522-1566), he rose to the position of Minister of Justice. A preeminent literary figure and historian, he was one of the “Later Seven Masters”(Hou Qizi), a prominent literary circle of the Ming dynasty, alongside Li Panlong and others. Renowned for his vast historical contributions, he was lauded by posterity as possessing the “genius of the two Simas”—referring to the preeminent historians Sima Qian and Sima Guang. Among his extensive writings is the Four Categories of Manuscripts from the Yanzhou Hermit(Yanzhou Shanren Sibu Gao).