Couplet

Object Details

• Artist

  Qian Han (1882-1950)

• Description

  Matched hanging scrolls (tui-lien) containing a couplet written in running script (hsing-shu). The couplet may be translated as follows:

  "If you are satisfied with everything then your heart will be at ease;

  A person who has reached the point of having no requirements naturally becomes lofty."

• Signatures

  The second line of the couplet is followed by the calligrapher's signature, reading Ch'ien han.

• Marks

  The second line of the couplet is followed by the calligrapher's signature and two seals: "Ch'ien Han wei yin" and "Ch'ien T'ai-hsi."

  The second line of the couplet is followed by the calligrapher's signature and two seals: "Ch'ien Han wei yin" and "Ch'ien T'ai-hsi."

• Inscriptions

  The couplet bears an inscription to Yu Wei-san (b. 1915), the donor of the pair of scrolls to the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Wei-san Yu

• Type

  Calligraphy

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1910s, 1940s

• Name

  Qian, Han

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, Chinese Art, Modern period (1912 - present), Running script

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Calligraphy (visual works)