Emperor Gaozong of Song

CHINA, Henan, Kaifeng; Song dynasty

Emperor Gaozong (reigned 1127–1162) was born Zhao Gou and titled Prince of Kang. The ninth son of Emperor Huizong (reigned 1100–1125) of Northern Song dynasty, he was the founding emperor of the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279).
A notable calligrapher, his cursive script features a natural flow and mellow style that is rich and pure. Originally learning calligraphy from his father, as he got older, he began to study the styles of the famous calligraphers, Huang Tingjian and Mi Fu. Once his skills were fine-tuned, his works were considered to be on par with that of Wang Xizhi. Emperor Gaozong often scripted copies of the Heart Sutra and the Diamond Sutra and offered them as gifts.
His works include Stele of Foding Guangming Pagoda, kept by the Imperial Household Agency in Tokyo, and Poem by Bai Juyi, engraved into the Stele Wall at Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.