A handscroll by Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) philosopher and calligrapher Wang Yangming (1472-1529) fetched 2.18 billion yen ($15.01 million) at the GAVEL 2025 Spring Auction held in Osaka, Japan, on May 10.
This historic sale price set a world record for Ming Dynasty calligraphy works at a public auction.
Wang Shouren, better known as Wang Yangming, was born in Yuyao, Zhejiang province. His "Philosophy of Mind", which emphasizes understanding the world from within the mind, has had a profound influence on Japan and other East Asian countries.
His calligraphy, influenced by masters such as Mi Fu, Xianyu Shu, and Zhao Mengfu, combines strength with a balance of steadiness and finesse.
The auctioned handscroll, measuring an impressive 744 centimeters in length and 32 centimeters in width, features Wang’s semi-cursive transcription of a lengthy poem and remains remarkably well-preserved.
Bidding for the piece opened at just 8 million yen. However, in the subsequent rounds, offers surged in dramatic 100-million-yen leaps — a rare pattern in recent years' global art market.
Few of Wang's calligraphy works survive today, with most being personal letters now housed at museums and cultural institutions. Therefore, market-circulated examples are exceptionally rare.
This particular handscroll, bearing Wang's own poem in his calligraphy work, holds significant cultural value. Its record-breaking price is a powerful testament to the lasting value and global appeal of Chinese cultural artworks amid global economic and art market uncertainties.
Editor: Cheng Dengyu
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