Calligraphy in National Palace Museum, Song dynasty

Welcome to the National Palace Museum's collection of calligraphy from the Song dynasty! Here you can find some of the most impressive pieces of calligraphy ever written, including Commentary on the Book of Changes by Zhu Xi, Letter to Prefect Yuanbo (In a Pure Autumn) by Lu You, Letter to the Commandery Administrator Huizhi (In the Depths of Autumn) by Zhu Xi, Calligraphy of the Four Song Masters, The Cold Food Observance by Su Shih, Poem in Seven-character Verse by Huang T'ing-chien, Poem by Emperor Hui-tsung, On Szechwan Silk by Mi Fu and Letter to Officer-Gentleman Tu by Ts'ai Hsiang. These pieces are all masterpieces of Chinese calligraphy and provide us with a unique insight into the culture of the time. Come explore these incredible artifacts today!

1. Commentary on the Book of Changes

Zhu Xi was a native of Wuyuan in Huizhou in present day Jiangxi province. He was an important proponent of Lixue (also known as neo-Confucianism) who left behind an enormous corpus of written works.

2. Letter to Prefect Yuanbo (In a Pure Autumn)

Lu You was a talented scholar who excelled at poetry and prose. He wrote this letter in the Qiandao sixth year (1170) to his friend, Zeng Feng. The style is plump but dynamic, following his convention in letters written after his middle years.

3. Letter to the Commandery Administrator Huizhi (In the Depths of Autumn)

Zhu Xi was a famous thinker of the Southern Song period who spent his life pursuing the ambition of establishing a new order for the country. Zhu wrote this letter in the eighth lunar month of the Shaoxi fifth year (1194) after leaving his post as Administrator of Tanzhou (modern Changsha

4. Calligraphy of the Four Song Masters

The first section of this handscroll is the "Haiyu" modelbook, a letter written by Cai Xiang. The second section is "Poetry in Rhyme for the Master of the Three Colleges" done by Su Shi.

5. The Cold Food Observance

Su Shih, a native of Szechwan, is probably best known by his sobriquet, Tung-p'o. A bold personality and direct scholar-official, he was accused of literary slander and banished from the capital.

6. Poem in Seven-character Verse

Huang T'ing-chien was born in Fen-ning, Kiangsi. He became a Presented Scholar at the age of 23.

7. Poem

Emperor Hui-tsung, also known as Chao Chi, was the eighth emperor of the Sung dynasty. He ruled from 1101 to 1125 and was known for his extravagant lifestyle. This is believed to be part of the reason the dynasty nearly collapsed and he was eventually killed by enemies.

8. On Szechwan Silk

Mi Fu was a famous poet, painter, calligrapher, and collector from the Northern Sung period. He was known as one of the Four Sung Masters of calligraphy. This handscroll is made of Szechwan silk and was made in 1044.

9. Letter to Officer-Gentleman Tu

Ts'ai Hsiang, who went by the style name Chün-mo, was a Presented Scholar of 1030 and a gifted calligrapher. He studied the style of Yü Shih-nan, Yen Chen-ch'ing, and the styles of Chin dynasty masters.