04-Su Shi’s Water Melody - To Zhang Woquan, at the Bracing Pavilion of Huangzhou
- Transcript
- Eastern Han scholar Cai Yong once said, “to create exceptional calligraphy, one must first release their emotions and clear the mind of all distractions”. Before beginning to write, one must relax and let the strokes flow freely. He also remarked that true calligraphy must embody a variety of poses, such as sitting, walking, flying, and moving, reflecting the dynamic nature of each motion. This underscores the need for variations in weight, speed, and the transitions between firm and gentle strokes when writing cursive script. Like a dancer interpreting emotions on stage, cursive calligraphy reveals the emotions behind each character—this is precisely the inspiration drawn from Su Shi's words.
In this work, Taiwan Professor Lin Long-dar transcribes Su Shi's famous poem, To Zhang Woquan, at the Bracing Pavilion of Huangzhou, in flowing cursive script. The final line, “…an indomitable spirit and a strong wind, are all you need to sail rocky waters on your feet.” perfectly encapsulates the harmony between the poem's sentiment and the emotional depth of cursive script. Spread across four connected panels, the piece invites the viewer to feel the sweeping momentum of cursive calligraphy and the profound poetic imagery it conveys.
LIN Long-dar
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