祝允明（1460年—1526年）是明代杰出书法家，他出身书香门第，在成长过程中受到李应祯、沈周、徐有贞等前辈的教导，又与文徵明、唐寅、王宠等人交游，相互砥砺。

祝允明的书法以草书见长，其楷书和行书也有很高的艺术成就。他的楷书取法于锺繇、二王等晋唐名家，作品崇古尚雅，法度森严，并能博古融新，形成独特的艺术风格。他的行书则在仿效宋四家的基础上，融入自己的理解和创变。在书法理论上，祝允明提倡“沿晋游唐，守而勿失”，强调在严守晋唐古法的基础上进行创新，反对片面追求个性而忽视法度的倾向。

祝允明的草书艺术可以分为三个阶段。第一阶段，祝允明主要学习前人经典作品，并初步形成自己的风格。第二阶段，他的草书艺术风格逐渐成熟，显示出强大的包容性。第三阶段，他的草书已臻于化境，能够熟练地将王献之草书的技法化于笔下，并参酌唐宋诸家，展现出独具个性的面目。

祝允明对章草下了较深的功夫，这源于他一以贯之的以魏晋遗法为宗的书学观念。他穷源竟流，印证章草笔法，并以独特的方式实现了章草和今草的融通。他的章草作品用笔有古意，特色在于字形疏朗，并在一定程度上减弱了字与字之间的独立性，上下字之间、行与行之间相互呼应，整体感极强。

祝允明的小草书法是其草书艺术创作中的重要组成部分。他的小草书可分为两种风格：一是接近王羲之、孙过庭的精严内敛风格；二是接近王献之、李怀琳的散朗多姿风格。第二种风格尤其深具格调。

祝允明的大草书法风格鲜明，最为引人瞩目。他的大草作品在笔法上中侧兼施，沉著痛快；结构上大开大阖，变化多端；章法上虚实相生，乱而能整，展现出强烈的艺术个性和深刻的艺术内涵。祝允明对大草立轴作品的章法探索独树一帜，对后世产生了深远的影响。

祝允明作为明代书法的重要人物，其草书艺术在明清两代受到了广泛的关注和讨论。从明中期的普遍赞誉，到明后期褒贬不一的评价，再到清代对其章草和小草的青睐，书法艺术评价的多元性和时代性显而易见。了解祝允明草书的接受情况，有助于我们更为立体地看待祝允明的草书成就。

Zhu Yunming （1460-1526） was an eminent calligrapher of the Ming Dynasty, born into a family of scholarly repute. Throughout his formative years, he was influenced by predecessors like Li Yingzhen, Shen Zhou, and Xu Youzhen, and developed friendships with contemporaries such as Wen Zhengming, Tang Yin, and Wang Chong, who collectively honed each other's skills.

Zhu Yunming excelled in cursive script, though his regular and running scripts were also highly celebrated. His regular script drew on the styles of ancient masters such as Zhong You and the Two Wangs from the Jin and Tang dynasties, embodying ancient reverence and elegance with strict formality, yet innovatively incorporating old and new elements to create a unique artistic style. His running script, meanwhile, was based on imitating the four masters of the Song Dynasty, integrated with his personal interpretations and innovations. Theoretically, Zhu advocated for "following the Jin and exploring the Tang, while preserving the essence," emphasizing innovation on the basis of adherence to ancient Jin and Tang methods and opposing the trend of pursuing personal flair at the expense of traditional discipline.

Zhu Yunming's cursive calligraphy evolved through three stages: an initial phase where he primarily studied classical works and began developing his style; a mature phase where his style showed great inclusivity; and a final phase where his mastery allowed him to skillfully incorporate the techniques of Wang Xianzhi, influenced by Tang and Song masters, displaying a distinct personal flair.

Deeply invested in Zhangcao, Zhu's approach was rooted in his unwavering dedication to the calligraphic traditions of the Wei and Jin dynasties. He thoroughly explored the origins and confirmed the methods of Zhangcao, achieving a unique fusion of Zhangcao and contemporary cursive styles. His works in this style featured an ancient feel, characterized by a loose structure that somewhat reduced the independence of individual characters, creating strong interconnections between characters and lines, thereby enhancing the overall coherence.

Zhu Yunming's minor cursive script was a significant component of his artistic output, manifesting in two styles: one akin to the restrained precision of Wang Xizhi and Sun Guoting, and another resembling the relaxed, vibrant style of Wang Xianzhi and Li Huailin. The latter style was particularly noted for its flair.

Zhu Yunming's large cursive script stood out for its distinctive, attention-grabbing style. His large cursive works combined firm and fluid brushwork, with bold, varied structures and a dynamic balance of form and void, capable of organizing chaos into order, showcasing a strong artistic personality and profound content. Zhu's explorations in the composition of large cursive vertical scrolls were uniquely influential, leaving a lasting impact on subsequent generations.

As a significant figure in Ming Dynasty calligraphy, Zhu Yunming's cursive art received extensive attention and discussion through the Ming and Qing dynasties. From widespread praise in mid-Ming to mixed reviews in later Ming, and finally to a preference for his Zhangcao and minor cursive in Qing, the diversity and temporality in the evaluation of his calligraphic art are evident. Understanding how Zhu Yunming's cursive was received helps us appreciate his achievements in cursive calligraphy more comprehensively.