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

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

ink-on-paper

toned paper

ink paper printed

old engraving style

woodcut effect

henna art

japan

tea stained

ink-on-paper

tile art

coffee painting

warm-toned

golden font

calligraphy

This hanging scroll, part of a triptych of single-line calligraphies, was created by Gaoquan Xingdun in 1690. The bold strokes of black ink on the cream-colored paper demonstrate Xingdun's mastery of the expressive calligraphic style. The characters, composed of single lines, emphasize the spontaneity and energy of the artist’s hand. This work exemplifies the elegance and beauty of Chinese calligraphy, a highly revered art form that reflects both aesthetic and philosophical values.

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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.