The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 13, 2025

Four Poems: Calligraphy in Cursive Script (xingshu)

1500s-1600s

Chen Jiru

(Chinese, 1558–1639)
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
handscroll; ink on gold speckled paper
Calligraphy section: 27 x 195 cm (10 5/8 x 76 3/4 in.)
Gift of Dr. Roger Y.K. and Mrs. Evangeline C. Hsu, Dr. Daphne T. Hsu, and Dr. Jeffrey T. Hsu in honor of Dr. Ju-hsi Chou 2004.65
Location: Not on view

Description

Written in graceful calligraphy with well-composed characters, the artist communicates his thoughts and state of mind in four poems. Characters written in dark, thick strokes convey rhythm, and indicate the moment after the writer had paused to recharge his brush with ink. Chen Jiru was a native of Huating (modern Shanghai). His calligraphy style resembles that of his friend, influential calligrapher Dong Qichang (1555–1636). Unlike Dong, Chen did not pursue government service: he burned his Confucian robes, declined a summons to serve at court, and immersed himself in literature, calligraphy, and painting.
  • ?–2004
    Dr. Roger Y. K. Hsu [1927–2022] and Mrs. Evangeline C. Hsu, Dr. Daphne T. Hsu, and Dr. Jeffrey T. Hsu, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2004–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
    Provenance Footnotes
    1 Dr. Roger Y. K. and Mrs. Eva Hsu are the parents of Drs. Daphne T. Hsu and Jeffrey T. Hsu.
  • 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).
    Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 242). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (July 28, 2014-January 7, 2015).
  • {{cite web|title=Four Poems: Calligraphy in Cursive Script (xingshu)|url=false|author=Chen Jiru|year=1500s-1600s|access-date=13 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2004.65