The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 25, 2024

Calligraphy in Semi-Cursive Style (xing-caoshu)

Calligraphy in Semi-Cursive Style (xing-caoshu)

c. 1660–1709
(Chinese, 1629–1709)
China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
hanging scroll; ink on paper
Painting only: 128.9 x 29 cm (50 3/4 x 11 7/16 in.); Overall with knobs: 179 x 36.4 cm (70 1/2 x 14 5/16 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Gow 2003.354
Location: not on view

Description

This bold calligraphy written by Yueshan, an Ōbaku school monk, consists of five characters tentatively translated as “Pine trees singing in the wind.” The line is from Cold Mountain Poems (Hanshan shi). Cold Mountain is the pen name (hao) of the poet monk Han Shan, as well as the name of a place. In one poem Han describes getting lost on the road to Cold Mountain, perhaps an allusion to the search for religious enlightenment.
  • Private Collection, Maine
    (Chinese Porcelain Factory, NY, sold to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gow)
    ?–2003
    Robert and Katy Gow, Naples, FL, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2003–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Power and Possession: Chinese Calligraphy and Inscribed Objects – Chinese Gallery Rotation 240a, 241c. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (August 13, 2018-February 3, 2019).
  • {{cite web|title=Calligraphy in Semi-Cursive Style (xing-caoshu)|url=false|author=Yueshan Daozong|year=c. 1660–1709|access-date=25 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2003.354