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Chinese Painting: Vestiges of Wang Xizhi’s Style of Calligraphy; Developments up to the Tang Dynasty

  • Image of "Record of the Creation of Wei Lingzang's Buddhist Statue (detail), Stele: Northern Wei dynasty, 5th century (Gift of Mr. Imaizumi Yusaku)"

    Record of the Creation of Wei Lingzang's Buddhist Statue (detail), Stele: Northern Wei dynasty, 5th century (Gift of Mr. Imaizumi Yusaku)

    Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
    January 2, 2019 (Wed) - March 3, 2019 (Sun)

    The avant-garde calligraphy of Wang Xizhi hugely influenced the calligraphy of the Northern and Southern dynasties. In the Southern dynasties, when the Song, Qi, Lian, and Chen dynasties rose and fell one after another, the sophisticated style of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi was passed down through the generations. Meanwhile, in the Northern dynasties, when the Northern Wei, Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, and Northern Zhou flourished and declined in succession, the classical style of calligraphy that was in use received influence from the Southern dynasties and gradually became more structured and magnificent. After the Sui dynasty unified the Northern and Southern dynasties, their calligraphic styles merged even further. This exhibition traces the process of how the beautiful and intellectual style of the Tang dynasty came into existence.

     

 Major works in this exhibition
* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
 Major works in this exhibition
* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
Preface to Lanting Pavilion, Dingwu VersionInk rubbing (Wubing version), By Wang Xizhi, Eastern Jin dynasty, dated 353 (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Chi shi Sutra, Vol. 1, Formaly owned by Nakamura Fusetsu, Song dynasty, dated 449 (Lent by Taito City Calligraphy Museum, Tokyo)
Samantabhadra Meditation Sutra, Formaly owned by Nakamura Fusetsu, Qi dynasty, dated 483 (Lent by Taito City Calligraphy Museum, Tokyo)
Lu cang chu fen, Vol. 14, Formaly owned by Nakamura Fusetsu, Northern Wei dynasty, dated 532 (Lent by Taito City Calligraphy Museum, Tokyo)
Sanghata Sutra, Vol. 2, Formaly owned by Nakamura Fusetsu, Sui dynasty, dated 616 (Lent by Taito City Calligraphy Museum, Tokyo)
Record of the Creation of Niu Jue's Buddhist Statue, Stele: Northern Wei dynasty, dated 495 (Gift of Mr. Imaizumi Yusaku)
Record of the Creation of Wei Lingzang's Buddhist Statue, Stele: Northern Wei dynasty, 5th century (Gift of Mr. Imaizumi Yusaku)
Record of the Creation of Yang Dayan's Buddhist Statue, Stele: Northern Wei dynasty, 6th century (Gift of Mr. Imaizumi Yusaku)

Related Exhibition

   Unrivaled Calligraphy: Yan Zhenqing and His Legacy Heiseikan Special Exhibition Galleries   January 16, 2019 (Wed) - February 24, 2019 (Sun)
   The Legacy of Wang Xizhi: The Path to Tang Dynasty Calligraphy Museum   January 4, 2019 (Fri) - March 3, 2019 (Sun)

Related Events

Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Auditorium  February 2, 2019 (Sat)   13:30 - 15:00   RESERVE_DAY
Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8  February 19, 2019 (Tue)   14:00 - 14:30   RESERVE_DAY