Letter from Wang Duo to Master Dajue

CHINA; Ming dynasty

This correspondence from Wang Duo to Chan Master Dajue contains 58 lines with a total of 434 characters. It was written with details of a discussion between the two in regard to Wang’s intent to donate his painting entitled Chan-Moon Arhat.
Although written in a letter format, the script is not the actual letter that was sent. Rather, it was a duplicate produced by Wang for the purpose of publishing his collection of literary works. This calligraphic work by Wang alternates between regular and running scripts, showing much more restraint in comparison to the encumbering trails and swirling strokes that typified his other pieces. Within this organized composition, there is a coordinated interplay of strong and frail strokes that result in a well-balanced script.
Wang Duo, also known as Juesi or Songqiao, was a calligrapher and painter of the late Ming (1368–1644) and early Qing (1644–1911) dynasties from Mengjin (present day Henan). Wang was well-versed in running script, and was unique in his style of calligraphy. There is grandness, vitality, and liberation in his works which are expressively uninhibited. As a result of his exceptional style, Wang Duo was also often referred to as the “Magic Stroke Wang Duo.”