Mi Fu

Mi Fu (Chinese: 米芾; 1051–1107) was a Chinese painter, poet, calligrapher and art theorist of the early Song dynasty. Born in Taiyuan, he was known for his landscape painting technique, later referred to as "Mi Dots", which involved the use of broad, wet ink dots applied with a flat brush. Mi Fu's poetry was influenced by Li Bai, while his calligraphy drew inspiration from Wang Xizhi.

Mi Fu is commonly identified in art historical scholarship by art historians as one of the four major calligraphers of the Song Dynasty, along with Su Shi, Huang Tingjian and Cai Xiang. His major works include Zhang Jiming Tie (張季明帖), Li Taishi Tie (李太師帖), Zijin Yan Tie (紫金研帖) and Danmo Qiushan Shitie (淡墨秋山詩帖). Among these, Shu Su Tie (蜀素帖), also known as Nigu Shitie (擬古詩帖), is considered an example of running script calligraphy. Mi Fu described his calligraphy as "a collection of ancient characters", reflecting its roots in traditional styles; however, his work also incorporates elements that diverged from earlier conventions. His artistic style was later adopted and interpreted by his son, Mi Youren.

Beyond his artistic achievements, Mi Fu was also known for having a distinctive personality and meticulous approach to his practice.