Huai Su's Small Grass Thousand Characters Manuscript

Author: Compiled by the Press
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-08-01
Features: Huaisu (737–799), styled Zangzhen, was of the secular surname Qian and originated from Changsha, Hunan. This volume, Huaisu's Small Grass Thousand-Character Classic, was written in the 15th year of the Zhenyuan era, which coincided with his 63rd year. It is on silk, with a total of 80 lines, each containing 12–13 characters. It is considered one of his late masterpieces, shedding his early habit of aggressive, uncontrolled brushwork. The calligraphy is round, concise, and full of substance, with a marvelous rotation of the brush, as if divinely inspired. It exudes a sense of peace, simplicity, and tranquility, as if untouched by the worldly. Wen Jia: "The silk copy of the Thousand-Character Classic exhibits meticulous brushwork, with every character thoughtfully executed. It has shed the habit of wildness and aggression, focusing instead on simplicity and antiquity." Wen Zhengming wrote: "The silk copy, a late work, strictly adheres to the rules, with every stroke carefully crafted, embodying the essence of 'natural simplicity' as described by Yuan Zhang." Now, the calligraphic manuscript of Huaisu's Small Grass Thousand-Character Classic is reproduced in book form to delight the calligraphy enthusiasts.