The Early Years Ch'Ien Kung came into the world in Changshu, China, in 1582. His early life was marked by loss, as he was orphaned at a young age. Without a family to guide his studies, he did not receive a formal education until he had reached adulthood. It was during this later period of growth that he found a teacher in Wen Zhengming. Under this guidance, the brushwork began to take shape. He learned the discipline required for the…