Two Poems by Yan Xiufu late 18th - early 19th century

ink-on-paper, hanging-scroll

sketch book

hand drawn type

hand lettering

japan

ink-on-paper

personal sketchbook

hanging-scroll

sketchwork

pen work

sketchbook drawing

sketchbook art

calligraphy

small lettering

initial sketch

Kameda Bōsai (1752-1826) was a prominent calligrapher in Edo-period Japan who was known for his mastery of the *kaisho* script. This work, "Two Poems by Yan Xiufu," is an example of Bōsai's skilled hand, where he writes out two poems by the 12th-century Chinese poet Yan Xiufu in flowing strokes that evoke the feeling of natural elegance. It's a great example of the esteemed art of *shodo* (calligraphy) in Japan and a visual manifestation of the beauty found in the written word.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This text recites the two poems by the Chinese Tang Dynasty poet Yan Xiufu 嚴休復 (died 835/840) that are notated in Complete Tang Poems (Quan Tangshi), commissioned by Emperor Kangxi in 1705, and the largest compilation of poetry from that period. 終日齋心禱玉宸　魂消目斷未 / 逢真　不如一樹瓊瑤蕊　笑對藏 / 花洞裏人　　香車潛下玉龜山　塵 / 世何由覩蕣顏　惟有多情枝 / 上雪　好風吹綴綠雲鬟My heart, after day-long fasts, has prayed to the Jade Palace, / Yet soul has melted, eyesight failed without Encountering the True! / Much better is this entire tree of jade and jasper stamens, / Smiling as they face this visitor to the Cave of Hidden Flowers!The winged chariot once descended to the Mount of the Jade Tortoise: / In this dusty world, whenever again will we view the visage of Shun' / There are only these snowflakes, full of feeling on the branch, / Blown here by a lovely breeze to ornament green-cloud chignons!(Trans. Stephen Addiss)