... Jiangsu province, Shen Zhou was a member of the landed gentry. His family's wealth traces to the late Yuan period when Shen Zhou's great-grandfather attained a large plot of land after the dissolution of Mongol Rule. When the Yuan Dynasty fell and the Ming Dynasty was established, the head of the Shen family was given the position of tax collector under the Hongwu emperor. This appointment ensured the family a steadily increasing fortune, which allowed the male members of the Shen family the freedom to live their lives as scholar artists. His grandfather, father, and uncle all dedicated themselves to entertaining literati friends, to poetry, calligraphy, collecting, and painting. Growing up Shen Zhou prepared for a life at court. He was well learned and took the necessary official examinations. He enjoyed poetry, painting, and calligraphy. After his father's death, Shen Zhou left the court life deciding he would not proceed with ...

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