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Tower poems are a rare treat
By Li Wei |
October 17, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
POEMS of Duojing Tower (31.2cm by 53.1cm) are a famous calligraphy work by Mi Fu, depicting a masterpiece with his unique uninhibited style.
Duojing Tower is located in the Ganlu Temple of Beigu Mount in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. With an imposing view of the Yangtze River facing north, literatis at that time preferred touring around and writing poems to praise the outstanding landscapes. And Poems of Duojing Tower is one of the works that makes the tower famous.
Mi Fu (1051-1107), the great painter, poet and calligrapher in the Song Dynasty, gained renown for the "Mi Fu" style -- bold use of large wet dots of ink applied with a flat brush. Among all the other eccentric calligraphers, Mi gained his name, and was even deemed "Madman Mi," because he was obsessed with collecting stones and even declared one stone to be his brother. Hence he would bow to his "brother" rock in a display of the filial devotion given to older brothers. The way he dressed and requirements of extreme cleanliness also made him standout from calligraphers in earlier dynasties.
Despite his personality, there is no doubt about his gifted genius. Mi was among those for whom writing or calligraphy was intimately connected with the composing of poetry or sketching. It required an alertness of mind and spirit, which he thought was best achieved through the enjoyment of wine. His calligraphy works are few, but big characters like such as Poems of Duojing Tower are truly rare.
Poems of Duojing Tower is believed to be the work of his latter years. Powerful, veteran strokes, what he himself claimed "brush word" can be observed easily in this calligraphy. This masterpiece contains 41 columns with each column two or three characters. The bold fist-sized characters mirror Mi's personality perfectly.
Duojing Tower is located in the Ganlu Temple of Beigu Mount in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. With an imposing view of the Yangtze River facing north, literatis at that time preferred touring around and writing poems to praise the outstanding landscapes. And Poems of Duojing Tower is one of the works that makes the tower famous.
Mi Fu (1051-1107), the great painter, poet and calligrapher in the Song Dynasty, gained renown for the "Mi Fu" style -- bold use of large wet dots of ink applied with a flat brush. Among all the other eccentric calligraphers, Mi gained his name, and was even deemed "Madman Mi," because he was obsessed with collecting stones and even declared one stone to be his brother. Hence he would bow to his "brother" rock in a display of the filial devotion given to older brothers. The way he dressed and requirements of extreme cleanliness also made him standout from calligraphers in earlier dynasties.
Despite his personality, there is no doubt about his gifted genius. Mi was among those for whom writing or calligraphy was intimately connected with the composing of poetry or sketching. It required an alertness of mind and spirit, which he thought was best achieved through the enjoyment of wine. His calligraphy works are few, but big characters like such as Poems of Duojing Tower are truly rare.
Poems of Duojing Tower is believed to be the work of his latter years. Powerful, veteran strokes, what he himself claimed "brush word" can be observed easily in this calligraphy. This masterpiece contains 41 columns with each column two or three characters. The bold fist-sized characters mirror Mi's personality perfectly.
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