Tang Poem in running-cursive script 行草書唐詩

Object Details

• Artist

  Bada Shanren 八大山人 (朱耷) (1626-1705)

• Label

  This four-line poem, titled Seeing Off a Buddhist Monk, was composed by the Tang-dynasty poet Liu Changqing (ca. 710-after 787). Essentially a teasing poem of farewell, the text also contains an underlying theme of escape from the mundane world, referring to Fertile Isles Mountain, near Xinchang, in Zhejiang Province, where several famous Buddhist temples and retreats were located. The poet advises his friend that if he truly wishes to find solitude and seclusion, he should not seek to live in such a well-known place.

  The lonely cloud and the wilderness goose,

  How should they abide in the world of man?

  Do not buy land on Fertile Isles Mountain,

  People of the time already know the place.

  Translation by Stephen D. Allee

• Provenance

  To 1997

  Wang Fangyu (1913-1997) and Sum Wai (1918-1996), to 1997 [1]

  To 1998

  Shao F. Wang, New York and Short Hills, NJ, by descent, to 1998 [2]

  From 1998

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Shao F. Wang in 1998

  Notes:

  [1] According to Curatorial Note 2, Joseph Chang and Stephen D. Allee, May 7, 1998, and Joseph Chang and Stephen D. Allee, August 18, 1998, in the object record.

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Enigmas: The Art of Bada Shanren (1626-1705) (June 20, 2015 to January 3, 2016)

  In Pursuit of Heavenly Harmony: Paintings and Calligraphy by Bada Shanren (1626-1705) from the Bequest of Wang Fangyu and Sum Wai (April 26 to October 13, 2003)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Wang Fangyu (1913-1997)

  Sum Wai (1918-1996)

  Shao F. Wang

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Bequest from the collection of Wang Fangyu and Sum Wai, donated in their memory by Mr. Shao F. Wang

• Type

  Calligraphy

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s

• Name

  Wang, Fangyu, Wai, Sum, Wang, Shao F.

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Shao F. Wang collection, Poetry

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Calligraphy (visual works)