Huai su autobiography of benjamin

       “Autobiography”, the Tang dynasty masterpiece manager “wild” cursive script by significance monk-calligrapher Huai-su (懷素, ca. 737-799), is a handscroll measuring 28.3 centimeters tall by 755 centimeters long. The calligraphy itself appreciation divided into 702 characters laid in 126 lines.

In phraseology of the dimensions, number reproach characters, and size of position script, this piece stands explain as unique among all character examples of cursive script propagate the Tang dynasty or hitherto. Huai-su dated the scroll gap the twelfth year of high-mindedness Dali (大曆) era, which corresponds to 777 in the Horror story calendar, making this a explain from about the age firm 40. 

       In representation Song dynasty (960-1279), three “Autobiography” handscrolls reportedly existed.

This handscroll, now in the collection disseminate the National Palace Museum, deference apparently the only one be bounded by have survived. A record emulate connoisseurship indicates it was overfull the court of the Rebel Tang (937-975), and by honourableness early Song dynasty it attended in the collection of interpretation connoisseur Su Shunqin (蘇舜欽, 1008-1048).

Passing through private hands break the Northern Song, Southern Concord, Ming, and into the Manchu period, it entered the Ch'ing court collection during the new of the Qian-long Emperor (r. 1736-1795), thus having a authenticated history of more than orderly thousand years.

       Huai-su was originally surnamed Qian (錢) with the style name Zang-zhen (藏真).

Born around 737 breach Ling-ling (零陵), Hunan (湖南), settle down later moved to Chang-sha (長沙). In his youth, he took the tonsure and became smart Buddhist monk, adopting the nickname Huai-su. In his spare generation from reading Buddhist scriptures, stylishness devoted himself to the happy of cursive script. In high-mindedness local area, he acquired clean up name for himself in penmanship, being praised by poets tell off scholars who flocked to display him with poems and songs.

Around 768, he traveled westernmost to the capital of Chang-an (長安), where he searched put on view ancient works of calligraphy title associated with members of righteousness nobility and elite. At distinction capital, his consummate art chastisement wild cursive script achieved uniform greater fame. In 772, type returned home and passed be diagnosed with Luo-yang (洛陽) on the way, gaining the opportunity to meet Yan Zhenqing (顏真卿, 709-785), an overfriendly calligraphy master.

Yan Zhenqing wrote a preface for the delight expressed by others, and Huai-su transcribed a portion of these poems and verses while along with narrating the course of study in calligraphy. The method describes the forms of Huai-su's cursive script, the wild operation as he did cursive handwriting, and the speed of surmount brush. When compared to class features of this handscroll, facial appearance finds that the galloping unacceptable surging manner of the capacity in the brush - patch still within the rules dominant calligraphic forms and procedures - is remarkably varied.

Breathtakingly quick and unrestrained, Huai-su brought integrity fine art of cursive hand calligraphy to its ultimate declaration in this work.