This study explores how regional competition occurred in Jiangnan area art circles during the late Ming and how late Ming connoisseurs cultivated regional awareness to promote the cultural development of their hometowns. Since the mid-Ming, the trend of appreciating and collecting paintings and calligraphicworks had become popular among people of different social classes. At the same time, due to the increase of forgeries and demand for artwork, the task of authenticating artwork had become increasingly important. However, during the period after Wen Zhengming’s death and before Dong Qichang, the leading authority on authentication had not yet been determined. Thus, late Ming connoisseurs all rose to contend for the leadership in connoisseurship. The Huizhou literati connoisseur Zhan Jingfeng, who was the strongest influence with respect to developing regional consciousness, challenged the cultural supremacy of Suzhou, declaring he would “downgrade Suzhou while honoring Huizhou” with the slogan “Xinan ju yan(新安具眼)” (”equipped with the eyes of Xinan”). Zhan Jingfeng and his peers challenged their rivals regarding authentication leadership, reflecting regional interaction in the context of sectarianism. It is noteworthy that competition and imitation were both found in this rivalry.