10 Facts About Zhao Mengfu

Zhao Mengfu, was a Chinese calligrapher, painter, and scholar during the Yuan dynasty.

Zhao Mengfu was a descendant of the Song dynasty's imperial family through Emperor Xiaozong's brother Zhao Bogui who married a lady surnamed Song who was the granddaughter of Emperor Huizong.

Zhao Mengfu was recommended by the Censor-in-chief Cheng Jufu to pay an audience with Kublai Khan in 1286 at the Yuan capital of Dadu, but was not awarded an important position in office.

Zhao Mengfu's work was however, greatly appreciated later by the Confucian-inspired Yuan Emperor Renzong.

Zhao Mengfu was married to Guan Daosheng, who was an accomplished poet, painter and calligrapher.

Zhao Mengfu's landscapes are considered to be done in a style that focuses more on a literal laying of ground.

However, in 2019 Dutch scholar Lennert Gesterkamp argued that the colophon attached to the painting and mentioning Xie Youyu is a forgery, and that in fact Zhao Mengfu's intention was to honor his own spiritual master, Daoist scholar Du Daojian, who celebrated nature.

Zhao Mengfu had several sons with his wife Guan Daosheng.

Zhao Mengfu was the maternal grandfather of Wang Meng, another famous painter.

Zhao Mengfu was related to the later Ming dynasty literary figure Zhao Yiguang and his son Zhao Jun.