Poems on the Pure Land

CHINA; Yuan dynasty

This copy of a set of poems by Chan Master Zhongfeng Mingben was scripted by Zhao Yong, the second son of the famed calligrapher Zhao Mengfu. The total work is comprised of 185 characters in 18 lines. Master Zhongfeng was known to be a close friend of the Zhao family, often sharing knowledge and teachings of Chan Buddhism with them. The poetry describes the sufferings associated with samsara, and encourages wholehearted devotion to the Pure Land.
Zhao Yong’s calligraphic style unmistakably takes after that of his father. Influence from Xianyu Shu is also apparent in the free and uninhibited use of the brush, contributing to larger and more angular characters. Although his works lack the calligraphic variation that his father was famous for, Zhao Yong’s uniformly-sized characters are indicative of his own personal style, and given his artistic influences, his works can be considered of a high quality.