Poems of Realization at Huishan Temple

CHINA; Ming dynasty

Composed and scripted by Wang Wen, this poem scroll shares various insights and experiences that were gained through discussions, as revealed to the monks of Huishan Temple in Henan. The piece suggests the calligrapher’s close relationship with his Buddhist acquaintances. There are a total of 99 characters in the two poems entitled, Disclosure to the Monks of Huishan Temple and Passing by the Tan Hermitage. Both poems are pentametric verses that express Wang’s high level of understanding and strong devotion to Buddhism through both his authorship and calligraphy.
Each character is approximately the size of a fist and written in running script, with a tendency towards regular script. Strokes are steadfast, vigorous, and bold. The calligraphy resembles the works of Fan Chengda of the Northern Song dynasty (1127–1279), and the techniques strongly resemble that of Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, and Mi Fu. A variety of solidity and void populate the scroll and results in an endless flow of interesting nuances.
Wang Wen, also known as Ziyu or Shizhai, was a Ming dynasty (1368–1644) calligrapher, artist, and poet. He was adept in painting, and was particularly skilled in cursive script calligraphy despite being self-taught. His calligraphic works are considered highly expressive and portray vigor and stability.