Calligraphy Classics Series Vol. 20: “Ode to Withered Trees” / “Mourning Book of Emperor Wen”

Two masterpieces of running script by Wen Suiliang, one of the three great masters of the early Tang Dynasty. We have restored an old rubbing (single page) of the "Gikodo-cho" (Gikodo Collection) formerly owned by Hidai Tenrai. Fu's Commentary on Withered Trees is dynamic and lyrical in expression, in contrast to the structural beauty of regular script. The brushwork is elegant, and one can sense the freedom to change as the heart desires. Wen Huang's Lamentations is so similar to Mi-yi that some people once thought it might be a copy of Mi-yi's work. The brushwork is richer and warmer than Fu's Commentary on Withered Trees.

Table of Contents

Features of this series / What is copying classical calligraphy? / About cursive writing / Illustrations / Interpretations, Japanese readings, and outlines / Modern Japanese translation / Commentary / Characteristics of the form / Character shape and stroke order for creating calligraphy works (sections suitable for copying)