Daoqian

CHINA, Zhejiang, Hangzhou; Northern Song dynasty

Daoqian, whose original name was He Yunqian, was also known as Can Liaozi. He was a Chan monk and calligrapher born in Qiantang (present day Hangzhou, Zhejiang). He was initiated into the monastic order at a young age, and subsequently became a pupil of Chan Master Dajue Huailian of the Yunmen school. An expert writer of a variety of genres, his written works were compiled in Collection of Can Liaozi.
Daoqian was also highly praised for his calligraphy. His extant work, Letter to Shutong, which resembles the style of Chan Master Yuanwu Keqin, is kept at the Fukuoka Art Museum in Japan. Daoqian employed regular script in drafting the calligraphy for Inscription of Revolving Sutra Repository at Jingde Temple, which is composed by Chen Guan. A rubbing of the stele is now kept at the Imperial Household Agency in Tokyo, Japan.