Chinese Painting: Copies of Calligraphic Masterpieces
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Writing after Written Appointment for Zhang Jiuling by Xu Hao (detail), By Dong Qichang, Ming dynasty, 17th century (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
February 2, 2016 (Tue) - April 10, 2016 (Sun)When learning calligraphy, it would be ideal to model one’s writing on calligraphic works with established reputations. However, not everyone has access to such works. People therefore learned calligraphy through copybooks and rubbings of stone steles. One usually made faithful copies, but even copies can vary in style: some offer glimpses of the copiers’ individuality, while others show more liberal interpretations.
This exhibition features examples of copied works by calligraphers such as Dong Qichang and Wang Duo of the Ming, as well as Fu Shan, He Shaoji, Wu Changshuo, and Luo Zhenyu of the Qing. Through these works, visitors are invited to contemplate these calligraphers’ views of their art, how they interpreted classical works, and how preferences in calligraphic styles changed over time.
Current exhibit includes:
Writing after Written Appointment for Zhang Jiuling by Xu Hao, By Dong Qichang, Ming dynasty, 17th century (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Poems, Writing after Old Copybooks, and Letters, By Jiang Chenying, Qing dynasty, 17th century (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Writing after the Letter of Liu Gongquan, By Wang Duo, Ming dynasty, dated 1647 (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Writing after the Copybooks of Huai Su, By Shen Quan, Qing dynasty, 17th century (Gift of Mr. Aoyama San'u)