Song Huang Tingjian's Cold Mountain Zisi and Pang Jushi's Poem Scroll

Author: Shanghai Shuhua Publishing House
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Fidelity to the calligraphy of renowned masters throughout history. The calligraphy of the Song Dynasty emphasized intention, where "intention" meant, based on the methods of the Tang Dynasty, transitioning from regular script to running script, pursuing individuality from common patterns, each setting new standards and forging unique paths, creating their own styles. Especially during the Northern Song period, numerous calligraphers emerged, who were erudite and dedicated to this art, thusing a new era. The "Four Masters of the Song Dynasty," represented by Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fu, and Cai Xiang, are outstanding figures. Among the Northern Song calligraphers, Huang Tingjian was the most individualistic and innovative. Huang Tingjian was born in the fifth year of the Qingli period of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song (1045) and died in the fourth year of the Chongning period of Emperor Huizong (1105). His courtesy name was Luzhi, and his sobriquets were Fuweng and Shanggudao Ren, widely known as Huang Shanggu. He was from Fennin, Hongzhou, Jiangxi. Huang Tingjian was exceptionally intelligent and studious in his youth, able to memorize what he read at a glance. He came from a scholarly family, with his father, Huang Shu, a jinshi (imperial scholar) during the Qingli period, unable to hold official office due to his integrity. At the age of fourteen, Huang Tingjian lost his father, and his family fell into poverty. His uncle, Li Chang, visited their home and asked about the books on the shelf, and Huang Tingjian answered without hesitation. In the fourth year of the Zhiping period (1067), he passed the imperial examination and became a county magistrate of Ye County in Runzhou. Later, he served as a professor at the Imperial Academy of Damingfu, a magistrate of Taihe County, and then as a assistant compiler of the Imperial Annals. In the first year of the Yuanfeng period (1078), Su Shi met him as a poet and greatly praised his extraordinary talent, gradually establishing his reputation. During the reign of Emperor Zhezong, he was appointed as a compiler of the Secretariat of Imperial Documents. Emperor Shenzong later appointed him as a researcher of the Imperial Annals and an assistant compiler of the Imperial Secretariat. In the first year of the Shaosheng period (1094), Huang Tingjian participated in criticizing the new policies in the "Annals of Shenzong" along with Su Zhe's faction and was demoted to a deputy magistrate of Fu Prefecture and exiled to Qianzhou. In the fourth year of the Shaosheng period, he was further exiled to Rongzhou. After Emperor Huizong ascended the throne, many of the old faction were recalled, but Huang Tingjian suddenly faced another calamity and was stripped of his official position, exiled to Yizhou, and later to Yongzhou. He died en route to his appointment, aged sixty-one. Huang Tingjian's life was filled with hardships, multiple exiles, and poverty. His joys and sorrows, frustrations and delights, were all expressed through his calligraphy, especially his cursive script, which reached a level of perfection in his later years, achieving a very high realm.