6 panels, each with 4 columns of loopy calligraphy

Chang'an [left of a pair], 1818

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This pair of screens features the calligraphy of Kameda Bōsai, a Confucian scholar celebrated for his dynamic, vibrant handwriting. (Confucianism is an ancient philosophy and code of ethics that underpins the culture of China and its neighbors.) As a scholar, Bōsai was familiar with classical Chinese literature and culture and was a skilled calligrapher, painter, and poet in his own right. In this pair of screens he used the expressive “running” style of calligraphy, in which characters are abbreviated and multiple characters occasionally run together. The text is a transcription of a Chinese ballad (qilu) called “Chang’an, Ancient Theme” (“Chang’an guyi”) by Lu Zhaolin (c. 634–684). The city of Chang’an, today known as Xi’an, was significant to the Japanese—two of Japan’s early imperial capitals, Heijō and Heian (now the cities of Nara and Kyoto, respectively), were designed after this ancient Chinese capital city.

Details
Title
Chang'an [left of a pair]
Artist Life
1752 - 1826
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2013.29.616.1
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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6 panels, each with 4 columns of loopy calligraphy