Taiga-style Calligraphy, 1839
Fūgai Honkōexpand_more
Ink on paperexpand_more
Gift of the Clark Center for Japanese Art & Cultureexpand_more 2013.29.959
Not on Viewexpand_more
Fūgai playfully experimented with tonality, size, and writing in this work. One can see the ink running out, and the brush being dipped into ink through the change in ink tones. Taking advantage of the looseness of structure of the running-cursive script, he varies the size of each character as well, elongating some characters while flattening others, thus creating a visual rhythm in addition to the poetic rhymes.
Fūgai gained the nickname “octopus Fūgai” because of his signature, seen at the bottom left beginning with an arched line and a squiggle coming out of it, which resembles the creature. He was a Sōtō sect Zen monk but was well-known for his painting and calligraphy.
念公神法上池水 扁鵲須來療
我疴 莫怪仲冬幽谷裡 山靈
習習發鶯歌
廣澤老先生賜良藥水以療傷痛
Reminiscing that you divinely summoned [for me] the
“upper-pond” water to drink,
Bian Que has come to cure me of my illness!
Do not blame mid-winter here in this hidden valley
The Mountain Spirit conjures in profusion the songs of orioles!
Mr. Hirosawa bestowed me fine medicinal water to cure my
illness
(Trans. adapted from Stephen Addiss)
Details
- Title
- Taiga-style Calligraphy
- Artist Life
- 1779 - 1847
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2013.29.959
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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