Chu Yun-ming, a native of Soochow, was said to have been able to write large-character calligraphy at the tender age of four and compose poetry by the age of eight. As he grew up, he became famous for his ancient prose in the Soochow area. In his early years, Chu was taught calligraphy by his grandfather Hsu Yu-chen (1407-1472), who excelled at painting and poetry--achieving the manners of Huai-su and Mi Fu. In standard script, Chu studied under his father-in-law Li Ying-chen (1431-1493) and was hence praised for "learning and attaining everything." His standard, running, draft cursive, and cursive scripts therefore were all rooted in tradition. In Chu's later years, his "unpredictable and unrestrained" wild cursive script was praised as the best of the dynasty.

          Chu Yun-ming's cursive script has three notable features. The first is that it combines the styles of several calligraphers; the second is the variety that can be found within a single work of his; and the third is that he was able to work in different manners during the same period. In this handscroll, the application of the brush was quick as the characters appear to ebb and flow together. The brush force expands out left and right, and the spacing between the lines varies. The contrast between open and closed spaces in and between the characters also creates a sense of dynamic energy. These features are all related to the cursive script of the Sung calligrapher Huang T'ing-chien, but Chu's interpretation is even freer--unrestrained by conventions for a fresh and personal style. In Chu's signature, he wrote that he did this work on an autumn day in 1525 after drinking.