Zheng Xie

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. 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. 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. • Illustration — Calligraphical work of Zheng Xie, now collected in Shandong Museum • Illustration — Orchids, Bamboo and Rocks, hand scroll by Zheng Xie, 1762, Shanghai Museum • Illustration — Herbaceous peony viewing pavilion with Zheng Xie calligraphed horizontal board in Thin West Lake of Yangzhou

The recorded working language is Chinese. Positions recorded include county magistrate. Work by Zheng Xie is recorded in the collections of Minneapolis Institute of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Cleveland Museum of Art and Princeton Art Museum.

• Name — Zheng Xie • Born — November 22, 1693 • Birthplace — Xinghua, Jiangsu, Qing China • Died — January 22, 1766 • Place of death — Xinghua, Jiangsu, Qing China • Occupation — Magistrate, painter, calligrapher • Father — Zheng Li'an (鄭立庵) Zheng Xie, courtesy name Kerou (克柔), art name Banqiao (板橋) or Banqiao Daoren (板橋道人), commonly known as Zheng Banqiao (鄭板橋), was a Chinese official, painter and calligrapher of the Qing dynasty. He began life in poverty, but rose in the imperial examination system to become a magistrate in Shandong. 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. 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. 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. • Illustration — Calligraphical work of Zheng Xie, now collected in Shandong Museum • Illustration — Orchids, Bamboo and Rocks, hand scroll by Zheng Xie, 1762, Shanghai Museum • Illustration — Herbaceous peony viewing pavilion with Zheng Xie calligraphed horizontal board in Thin West Lake of Yangzhou

The poet is also known for his advocacy regarding male beauty, which he was in agreement with the opinion of Yuan Mei, who was an antagonist of his. An acquaintance of Yuan Mei reported the poet had "many male favorites (in Chinese called NanChong (男寵) or Waichong (外寵))".

Born at Jiangsu in 1693, he began his life in poverty before advancing through the imperial examination system to achieve public office. His administrative service culminated in his appointment as a county magistrate in Shandong, a role in which he served for twelve years. Throughout his tenure as a magistrate, Zheng Xie remained critical of administrative conventions, steadfastly refusing to ingratiate himself with senior superiors. His public career came to an end following reported criticism over his construction of a shelter for the poor, an act that prompted his resignation from administrative office. Following his departure from magistrate duties, Zheng Xie devoted his primary efforts to artistic and literary composition, although he briefly returned to imperial employment in 1748 when he served as an official calligrapher and painter for the Qianlong Emperor. His personal life was also marked by contemporary commentary; the poet Yuan Mei and an acquaintance recorded that Zheng Xie held a prominent advocacy for male beauty and maintained male favourites, referred to in historical accounts as NanChong or WaiChong. He died in Beijing in 1766.