Zhou Tianqiu
Led Wu School, revived ink orchids
Zhou Tianqiu(周天球) (1514–1595), courtesy name Gongxia(公瑕), also called Huanhai(幻海), and alternatively Youhai(幼海), Liuzhi Jushi(六止居士), Qunyu Shanren(群玉山人), and Xiaxiang Tingzhang(俠香亭長). He was from Taicang in Southern Zhili (now part of Jiangsu) and was a painter and calligrapher during the Ming dynasty. He moved with his father to Wuxian in Suzhou. At fifteen, he studied under Wen Zhengming and inherited his calligraphy style. Wen often praised him, saying, 'The one who will master my brush in the future is Zhou.' After Wen Zhengming's death, Zhou Tianqiu led the Wumen School of calligraphy. He was especially skilled in both large and small seal script, ancient clerical script, and running and regular script. Many important steles and inscriptions of the time were created by him. He was also good at painting orchids, reviving techniques of portraying orchid plants that had been lost since Zhao Mengfu, and he was one of the few to inherit them, especially following Zheng Sixiao’s methods. The 'Records of Ming Painting' noted, 'Since Zhao Songxue (Mengfu), ink orchids were lost, but Tianqiu alone captured their essence.' Occasionally, he also painted flowers, which were excellent. He developed his own style, showing innovation. He died at the age of eighty-two.