Chinese calligraphy is more than just handwriting. From at least the second century, it was considered an outlet for personal expression, not just in the words one wrote, but also in the abstract forms of one’s brushwork. Correspondingly, it was believed that a sensitive viewer could read a man’s character through his calligraphy. Letters were seen as particularly revealing because they were private documents that encouraged the most unguarded type of personal expression. In reality, however, famous calligraphers knew that their letters might be collected as works of art, and they strove to write beautifully even in private correspondence.

These letters are by men of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). They were preserved by collectors because of the fame of the writers, the beauty of the calligraphy, or both. Writing and reading letters were important daily activities in imperial China, where jobs were often located far away from friends and family. Many were written quickly and often for practical purposes, and they offer a glimpse inside the daily life of the scholar’s studio.