Calligraphy development during the Ming Dynasty was characterized by popular adoption and extensive studies of calligraphy copies. All the Ming Dynasty emperors loved calligraphy and encouraged the practice of this art. Zhu Di (1360-1424), the third Ming Dynasty emperor (1402-1424), recruited accomplished calligraphers and gave them official posts.

The Ming Dynasty, however, was lacking in great master calligraphers. Nevertheless, numerous calligraphers did carve names for themselves at different stages of this period. The more famous of these include Song Ke, Shen Du, Zhu Yunming, Wen Zhengming, Wang Chong, Xu Wei, Xing Tong, Dong Qichang, Zhang Ruitu, Huang Daozhou, and Mi Wanzhong.