Ode on a Wanli-era Imperial Brush

Description

Shitao
China, ca. 1638–1720

Ode on a Wanli-Era Imperial Brush
Qing dynasty (1644–1912)
1705
Hanging scroll, ink on paper
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection
Fund, 1965/2.75
A descendant of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) imperial family,
Shitao was a child during the Manchu invasion of 1644, and
became a Buddhist monk to avoid persecution. He traveled widely,
associating with the intellectuals and artists known as literati, and
became an accomplished theorist, painter, and calligrapher.
Shitao wrote this poem in running script (xing shu) just two
years before his death. It is an expression of deep gratitude to
a Buddhist abbot who had presented him with a valuable old
brush with a porcelain handle. Calligraphy was considered one
of the highest arts in East Asia because it was thought to reveal
the writer’s literary abilities and deep understanding of artistic
traditions. As nothing can be reworked, it also demonstrates
the writer’s dexterity and skill with a brush and ink. This
extraordinary work is one of the few surviving examples of
Shitao’s calligraphy in the hanging scroll format.
The text may be loosely translated as:
This “Easing-heat” brush with a porcelain handle originated in the
Wanli era. It experienced many profound affinities when wielded by the
imperial forearm.
My dream of nationhood has dissolved away, yet I still cherish the ashes
of my hometown. Profoundly moved and beyond speech, I hesitate and
ponder over every word I inscribe. In the early summer of 1705, I felt
grateful to the venerable Master Juegong, who bestowed upon me a brush
belonging to my late ancestor Emperor Shenzong. Examining it over
and over, I could not bear to let it leave my hands. So I executed this
calligraphy for the master with utmost appreciation.