Poem on Visiting Master Jingquan at Bantang Temple

CHINA; Ming dynasty

This poem describes Mo Shilong’s visit to Master Jingquan, and his stay at Bantang Temple. It is comprised of 4 lines with 51 characters in total, and is thought to have been scripted as a gift to Jingquan after the visit. It ends in a humorous tone, which is indicative of the close friendship between the two. The calligraphy, written in cursive script, is bold and powerful. Brushstrokes appear somewhat restrained, but flow freely and naturally together, joining in various locations to create an overall visually complex and appealing composition that exhibits the calligrapher’s skill and control over the brush.
Mo Shilong, also known as Yunqing or Tinghan, was a late Ming dynasty (1368–1644) painter and calligrapher. He was a peer and friend of Dong Qichang, a calligrapher and painter who once studied under Mo’s renowned father. His calligraphic style was influenced by Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi, and Mi Fu. This scroll is considered one of his representative works.