Song Cai Xiang's autographed poem

Author: Editorial Board of Selected Calligraphic Works from Historical Stele and Inscriptions
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-01-01
Features: Chinese calligraphy art boasts a long history and a unique style, with generations of masters and a rich treasure trove of works. To meet the urgent needs of, especially middle school students, for practicing traditional calligraphy, as well as the needs of calligraphy enthusiasts for appreciation and learning, we have selected works from various calligraphic styles and masters throughout history. Cai Xiang (1012-1067), styled Junmo, was a native of Xianyou, Xinghua (now part of Fujian Province). He held positions such as Judge of the Dali Court, Transport Commissioner of Fujian Circuit, and Director of the Three Departments. He also served as the Governor of Kaifeng, Quanzhou, and Hangzhou as a Direct Scholar of the Dragon Picture Pavilion, a Direct Scholar of the Secretariat of Military Affairs, and a Scholar of the Dongming Hall. Thus, he was known as Cai Dongming, and posthumously honored as Zhonghui. Cai Xiang was an important figure in the history of Chinese tea during the Song Dynasty. The most famous tea of the Song Dynasty was the Dragon and Phoenix Tea, with the saying "It began with Ding Wei and was perfected by Cai Xiang." Initially, it was sold in batches of eight cakes per pound. Later, during the Qingli era, when Cai Xiang served as Transport Commissioner of Fujian, the tea was reformatted into smaller cakes, with twenty cakes per pound, named "Superior Dragon Tea." Its preciousness was vividly described by Ouyang Xiu.