The ancient Chinese paid great attention to calligraphy. Children of high officials had to learn and try to write a good hand. Even emperors themselves were good at calligraphy.
Today, although various modern ways have been substituted for the original calligraphy, some people still practice the ancient form untiringly. During the traditional festivals, propitious couplets are always indispensable decorations, each written in a beautiful style.
The following are ten remarkable works by Chinese master calligraphers from the past. Let's feel the astounding beauty of the art.
Top 1: San Xi Bao Tie
San Xi Bao Tie includes Kuai Xue Shi Qing Tie by Wang Xizhi, Zhong Qiu Tie by Wang Xianzhi, and Bo Yuan Tie by Wang Xun.
These three are the earliest authentic works of Chinese calligraphy that have been discovered so far and they are kept respectively in the Palace museums in Beijing and Taipei, ranking at the top of the 10 national treasures. In 1764, Emperor Qianlong stored the three works of calligraphy in San Xi Hall.
Kuai Xue Shi Qing Tie by Wang Xizhi
This is the only piece of Wang Xizhi's original works that still remains today. It is and is 23 x 14.8cm, containing four lines of twenty-eight words. It is a family letter illustrating Wang's exhilaration on a clear day after a snowfall and his greeting to family members. Emperor Qianlong cherished this piece of work so much that he asked people to engrave the whole passage onto stone. Now it is in the collection of the Taipei Palace Museum.
Zhong Qiu Tie by Wang Xianzhi
Wang Xianzhi was the seventh son of Wang Xizhi. One of his most valuable works is Zhong Qiu Tie, 27 x 11.9cm, exhibited in the Beijing Palace Museum.
Bo Yuan Tie by Wang Xun
This calligraphy was named after its first two characters, Bo Yuan. Judging from the nervous style of the writing, it is a typical work of Wang Xun, the nephew of the famous calligrapher Wang Xizhi. His works were highly praised by the emperor at that time.
Top 2: Lan Ting Xu by Wang Xizhi, the World No.1 Running-style Handwriting
In the year of 353, Wang Xizhi, known as the "Sage of Calligraphy" in China, and his 41 friends made several poems at a gathering. This is the manuscript of their poem collection's preface, in which Wang expresses his feelings toward the changes of life. The structure and writing are so perfect that it is regarded as the top running-style handwriting.
Top 3: Ji Zhi Wen Gao by Yan Zhenqing
Ji Zhi Wen Gao was written in the year of 758, 28.2*75.5cm, containing altogether 234 characters. It has been collected by many individuals and governments. Now it is collected by the Taipei Palace Museum. Yan Zhenqing was a calligraphy master from the Tang Dynasty (AD618-907).
Top 4: Huangzhou Han Shi Tie by Su Shi
It is a 34 x 119.5 cm hand scroll kept by the Taipei Palace Museum. It was written in 1082 when Su Shi was relegated to Huangzhou due to the literary inquisition. Impoverished and depressed, he produced this poem on the cold-food festival. Besides being a painter and calligrapher, Su Shi was one of the most influential poets and essayists during the Song Dynasty (AD960-1279).
Top 5: Zhong Ni Meng Ji Tie by Ouyang Xun, the world's No.1 Regular-style Handwriting
Zhong Ni Meng Ji Tie is the representative piece of regular style handwriting in Ouyang Xun's late years. It very much resembles the Lan Ting Xu of Wang Xizhi, known as the "Sage of Calligraphy" in China, which shows that Ouyang has learned from Wang but also made some of his own improvements. Ou Yangxun was a calligrapher of the early Tang Dynasty.
Top 6: Zi Xu Tie (Auto-biography) by Huai Su, the World's No.1 Grass-style Handwriting
Huai Su was a Buddhist monk and calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty(AD618-907). Zi Xu Tie is the representative piece of grass-style handwriting in Huai Su's late years. His writing looks like violent storms, which displays his own passionate nature.
Top 7: Shu Su Tie by Mi Fu
This work, produced in 1088 when the calligrapher and painter Mi Fei from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) was thirty-eight, is a representative piece from the prime of his life. Eight poems composed by him were written on silk, into which the ruled lines are woven in dark threads.
Top 8: A Thousand Words of Grass-style Handwriting by Emperor Song Huizong
This is a rare scroll of Emperor Song Huizong's grass-style handwriting, delicately depicted on the long silk with the woven background image of a dragon by royal painters.
source: china daily
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