Single-Line Calligraphy [right of a triptych of single-line calligraphies] by Gaoquan Xingdun

Single-Line Calligraphy [right of a triptych of single-line calligraphies] 1690

ink-on-paper

toned paper

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japan

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calligraphy

This single-line calligraphy, part of a triptych, was created by Gaoquan Xingdun in 1690. The piece, currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is an example of the artist's expressive and fluid style. The calligraphic strokes, executed with bold black ink, flow effortlessly across the paper, evoking a sense of dynamism and energy. Xingdun's mastery of brushwork and his ability to convey emotion through abstract forms are evident in this work, which exemplifies the artistry of Chinese calligraphy.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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The written word is of utmost importance in Japanese Zen. Handwritten texts by Zen teachers—everything from lectures and certificates to poems and personal correspondence—are treasured as bokuseki, “ink traces” of the master, and displayed in monasteries for their didactic potential as well as for the beauty of the writing itself. This triptych of scrolls features the bold, semi-cursive calligraphy of Gaoquan Xingdun, a Chinese monk who immigrated to Japan in 1661 and became a central figure in the early development of the O_baku school, or sect, of Zen. Each scroll includes a single, five-character Zen maxim: “Eternal blessings on the wise ruler” on the important central scroll; “Religious spirit spreads across the four seas” at right; and “Beneficent graces permeate the world” at left.