Xing Tong (1551–1612), also recorded as Xing Dong, was a late-Ming political figure and artist. His courtesy name was Ziyuan; his sobriquets included 知吾, 啖面生, and 方山道民, and his late sobriquet was 來禽濟源山主. His native place is variously given as Linyi (臨邑) and Linqing in Shandong (山東臨清).
Life
In the 1570 Gengwu (庚午) provincial examination in Shuntian Prefecture, he ranked ninety-fifth; in 1574, he passed the Jiaxu (甲戌) examination as a jinshi, with his result also given as third class, 182nd. He was first appointed county magistrate of Nangong, then promoted in the eighth year of the Wanli era (June) to a Shanxi circuit investigating censor; in the tenth year he inspected the Hedong salt administration, in the eleventh he served as inspector of Su-Song, and in the twelfth year, second month, became Right Assistant Commissioner of Huguang. In the fourteenth year, first month, he reached the post of Shaanxi Xing Taipu Temple shaoqing (陝西行太僕寺少卿) and sought retirement because of an elderly parent. The final office is variously styled Shaanxi Xing Taipu qing (陝西行太僕卿) and Shaanxi Xing Taipu Temple shaoqing (陝西行太僕寺少卿); his career also included qianshi (僉事).
Literature and the arts
He excelled in poetry and prose and was especially accomplished in painting. He also practiced calligraphy; by age seven he could write large-character calligraphy and particularly admired Wang Xizhi's calligraphy. His calligraphic reputation earned him the designation “Northern Xing and Southern Dong” alongside Dong Qichang. With Zhang Ruitu, Dong Qichang, and Mi Wanzhong, he was counted among the “Four Greats of the Late Ming”; the group was also known as “Xing, Zhang, Mi, and Dong.” Critical praise described him as accomplished in prose, poetry, calligraphy, and painting, combining several talents.
Correspondence and family
His correspondence includes letters to Sun Jigao (孫繼皋), Tu Long (屠隆), and Wang Zhideng (王穉登), as well as letters from Wang Shizhen (王世貞), Wang Shimao (王世懋), and Zhao Nanxing (趙南星); he also replied to letters from Wang Shixing (王士性), Lü Kun (呂坤), and Wei Yunzheng (魏允貞). His younger sister was Xing Cijing (邢慈靜), born in 1573, and her husband was Ma Zheng (馬拯). A sister-in-law, Lady Yang (楊氏), was a younger sister of Yang Panshi (楊磐石).
Works
His works include 《來禽館集》, 《武定州志》, and 《來禽館帖》; 《來禽館集》 is also identified as a twenty-nine-volume work.
References
- CBDB Xing Dong (121005)
- 搜韵 邢侗 (51318)
- Wikidata Xing Tong (Q3570990)