Wen Zhenheng
文 (Wen) • Illustration — Wen Zhenheng Wen Zhenheng (1585–1645) was a Ming dynasty scholar, painter, landscape garden designer, and great grandson of Wen Zhengming, a famous Ming dynasty painter. Wen was born in Suzhou in 1585. In 1621, he graduated from the Imperial Academy, obtained the lowest degree of zhusheng.
Also recorded as Jiemin · Qimei · jie min
Wen Zhenheng
https: digicol.dpm.org.cn/cultural/detail?id=5c9ddd3d60bc4199b80829775b6f5ef4 · Public domain
- Born
- 1585 · Suzhou.
- Died
- 1645
- Nationality
- China · Ming dynasty
- Occupation
- poet · painter · politician · calligrapher
- Languages
- Chinese
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文 (Wen) • Illustration — Wen Zhenheng Wen Zhenheng (1585–1645) was a Ming dynasty scholar, painter, landscape garden designer, and great grandson of Wen Zhengming, a famous Ming dynasty painter. Wen was born in Suzhou in 1585. In 1621, he graduated from the Imperial Academy, obtained the lowest degree of zhusheng.
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wikidata · Q835818 · wikipedia · Wen Zhenheng
In this article
Treatise on Superfluous Things
Treatise on Superfluous Things
In 1637, Wen was the assistant magistrate of Longzhou county in the Shanxi prefecture. On the same year, he was appointed Secretariat Drafter by Chongzhen Emperor. Famous for his calligraphy, poetry and essays. He was also an expert in landscape garden design, the Sweetgrass Garden he built in Suzhou was famous at his time.
Wen Zhenheng's best known work Zhang Wu Zhi (traditional: 長物志, simplified:长物志, "Treatise on Superfluous Things") written between 1620-1627 was an encyclopedic book about garden architecture and interior design. Zhang Wu Zhi was divided into twelve volumes: • Vol 1. House and Dwelling—17 chapters • Vol 2. Flowers and Trees—43 chapters • Vol 3. Water and Stones - 18 chapters • Vol 4. Fowl and Fish—11 chapters • Vol 5. Books and Paintings - 26 chapters • Vol 6. Chairs and Beds—20 chapters • Vol 7. Utensils—58 chapters • Vol 8. Cloths and accessories—10 chapters • Vol 9. Boat and carriage—4 chapters • Vol 10. Arrangement—11 chapters • Vol 11. Vegetable and Fruits—27 chapters • Vol 12. Incense and Tea—24 chapters
Identity
Identity
Wen Zhenheng is recorded with the occupation calligrapher. Recorded with the occupation politician. Recorded with the occupation painter. Recorded with the occupation poet. Recorded as poet, painter, politician and calligrapher.
Wen Zhenheng 文震亨 - Letter - 1998-79 jj - Princeton University Art Museum
Wen Zhenheng · Princeton Art Museum
Wen Zhenheng 文震亨 - Letter - 1998-79 kk - Princeton University Art Museum
Wen Zhenheng · Princeton Art Museum
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1585
Wen Zhenheng was born on 1 January 1585.
1645
Wen Zhenheng died on 1 January 1645.
Primary material
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reference work
- “Wen Zhenheng”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q835818: Wen Zhenheng
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Craig Clunas. Superfluous Things, Material Culture and Social Status in Early Modern China. University of Hawaii Press. 2004. 0-8248-2820-8.
- 2.Wen Zhenheng. 长物志图说 Zhang Wu Zhi Tu Shuo. Shandong Pictorial Publishing House. 2005. 7-80603-779-9.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 1
- Wen, Zhenheng. Treatise on Superfluous Things. Penguin Classics. 2026. 9780241799857.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
39,078 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Wen TianxiangAuthor
- Wen TingyunAuthor
- Wen TongAuthor
- Wen YiduoAuthor
- Wenceslao AlpucheAuthor
- Wenceslao Fernández FlórezAuthor
- Wenceslau de MoraesAuthor
- Wenceslaus HajekAuthor
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