Xian Yu Shu Running Script Poem Praise

Author: Fang Chuanxin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-06-01
Features: Xian Yu Shu, during the Zhiyuan period, served as an official in the Jiangzhe Provincial Administration. He was frequently recommended by high officials to join the imperial academy. In his later years, he lived in a room at Tiger Forest in West Lake, indifferent to worldly affairs, shutting his door to guests, playing the lute, composing poetry, often becoming drunk and unrestrained, reciting poems and writing calligraphy, full of extraordinary charm, refreshing and awakening the senses. He spent his life appreciating antiques and calligraphy. It can be said that this is a rare and precious classic on ancient running script, and readers must carefully study and learn from it. Xian Yu Shu’s Running Script Poem Praise is an autographed manuscript. Created in the sixth year of the Dade era (1302). On paper. 43.5 cm in height, 876.4 cm in width. Later inscribed with Praise of the Moon-Sucking Cup. The poem in the portrait is missing the first characters of six lines: You, Liu, Qiu, Ou, Qiu, and Niu. This scroll features powerful brushwork and extraordinary charm, making it a fine example of Xian Yu Shu’s autographed manuscripts in circulation. At the end of the scroll, Lu Juren wrote two rhyming poems in reply, whose calligraphy is highly commendable. This scroll is now preserved in the Shanghai Museum. Hong Kong Shupu Press has published a facsimile edition of it. Xian Yu Shu’s running script is characterized by breadth, smoothness, and power, differing greatly from his fierce-style cursive script. When writing, he exudes a calm and composed demeanor, giving a natural and elegant impression. Therefore, some summarize his running script with the phrase “gentle yet powerful, perfectly capturing the essence.” He often pays attention to details in his writing, such as the skillful arrangement of brush tips and ink trails, all of which reveal his true nature as a top calligrapher of the Yuan Dynasty. Xian Yu Shu’s style is utterly captivating. Some describe his external form as “scrolls like colorful ribbons,” while others liken his work to “hiding intent within, revealing character outward.” His value is precious, and it is worth a look. This book is one volume in the Chinese Ink Manuscript Classics series, featuring Xian Yu Shu’s Running Script Poem Praise. Printed in large 16th format, the book is exquisitely reproduced, capturing the essence of the original work, making it an excellent choice for calligraphy enthusiasts to study and practice.