Letter of Long Absence

JAPAN; Heian period

This letter, dated 813, was written by Master Saicho, an eminent monk of the Heian period (794–1185) in Japan. It was addressed to a disciple of Master Kukai, and apart from discussing Kukai’s poetry, it inquired about when an appropriate time to visit Kukai might be. The letter begins with the sentence, “We have not seen each other for a long time,” which was the source of reference for the title, Letter of Long Absence. The only extant letter handwritten by Saicho, it was listed as a National Treasure of Japan in 1951.
The calligraphy is characterized by its sparse and light brushstrokes. A running-regular script was used, each character of which is independent and distinct. The work shows influence from the Preface to Sagely Teachings in Wang Xizhi’s Calligraphy, but it was clearly rendered with brushwork that is more swift and less restrained. This departs from the rigorous calligraphic style that the two Wangs (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi) practiced, lending the letter a clear and amiable effect.