Zheng Banqiao

Zheng Banqiao (1693-1765), with alternative name of Xie, courtesy name of Kerou and literary name of Liyan or Banqiao, was born in Xinghua, Jiangsu Province. He had been a magistrate in Weixian for 7 years. Born in a poor scholarly family, he showed intelligence at an early age. He loved painting and calligraphy. Because of poverty, he had to teach in a Sishu (private school in ancient time) and made a living by the meager income and by selling of his paintings. He was a xiucai in the time of Emperor Kangxi, Yuren in the time of Emperor Yongzheng, and jinshi in time of Emperor Qianlong. In the spring of 1746 (Qianlong 11th year) he was appointed as the magistrate of Weixian. In Weixian, he was noted mostly for his relief works for the poor. During his term in the office, Weixian suffered a very severe drought which had rarely happened in the past. With thousands acres of barren land and thousands of the homeless, he resolutely carried out relief measures. He opened the granary and provided relief loans. At the same time, he reported the drought to the upper government. The families with stored grain were required to share. The afflicted people were gathered to repair county walls and unclog channels and rivers so as to substitute for their loans. Many porridge factories were built to provide food for the old and young, disabled and hungry. Thousands of people were saved from the famine. Facing the disaster, he wrote ``Leaving Home``, ``Returning Home`` and ``Missing home`` and other poems, relating the real situation of the drought. He once gave a painting of bamboo to a travelling inspector in Shandong province with a poem written on it: Lying and listening to the bamboo`s rustling, I think of the poor`s crying. Minor officials were we, minor matters we care. This poem criticized the indifference of some high officials to the poor people. What he did greatly offended the rich and was fired in 1753 following a charge of embezzlement of public funds, conspired by the offended. During the 7 years in Weixian, he had discovered and trained many talents. He had not left any unfinished cases, with no complaints from every household. When he left Weixian, besides books, he practically had nothing. People built temples in honor of him. He went back to Xinghua, his hometown and then went to Yangzhou and maintained a livelihood by selling his paintings.

He had great achievements in poetry, calligraphy and painting. He was noted for his drawing of orchids, bamboo, and stones. His poetry, with a natural style, was often wild and moving. His calligraphy combined Li, Kai, Xing and Cao, four styles of calligraphy. He made acquaintances with Jin Nu, Huang Shen, Wang Shishen, Li Quying and other artists and they were together referred to as Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou. He died at home on 12th December, 1765 (Qianlong 30th year) at the age of 73. His books included Banqiao Essay, Banqiao Home Letters and Banqiao Poetry and other books.