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Actions Displays	Details Remove from selection Add to selection CollectionSouth & Southeast Asian Collection Object numberS1980-0388-001-0 Title‘Shou’ in Cursive Script 草书“寿”字 Creator calligrapher and seal engraver Reverend Song Nian became a monk in his youth. He was a self-taught painter, and was renowned for his highly unique style. After moving to Singapore in 1963, he became involved in the reconstruction of the Putige (the Buddhist Lodge). He was the abbot of the lodge until his death in 1997. Reverend Song Nian was a highly respected exponent of ancient writing and the historical development of Chinese characters. He was also an accomplished calligrapher who specialised in oracle bone and seal scripts, such as Zhongdingwen (bronze vessel inscription), Shiguwen (Stone Drum inscription), big and small seal scripts, Iron Wire Seal Script and the Three Bows Seal Scripts. His mastery of the many variations of official scripts was reflected in the way he grafted different calligraphic scripts to form one composite character. He was also able to inject a unique style in each of the official scripts he practiced.19111997Song Nian DescriptionIn 1990, Rev. Songnian organised a charity calligraphy exhibition featuring one hundred Shou (Longevity)written in seal, official, running, cursive and regular scripts. The hundred works demonstrated varing rhythms and styles. The above Shou exudes the rush of a racing steed. This calligraphy is a bang shu which refers to big characters. Big characters are harder to execute than small characters. The shaft of the brush is shorter and thicker than a normal brush. Similarly, its brush is thicker than normal. When writing with such a brush, the calligrapher has to grip its shaft with the whole palm, with the thumb facing downwards when holding the brush upright. In the course of writing, the caliigrapher's body is required to synchronise with the movement of his shoulder and elbow, and the character is required to be executed according to plan. Not all calligraphers have the physical requisites to write bang shu. 松年法师曾于1990年举办“百寿书法义展”，以篆、隶、行、草、楷各体书“寿”字百幅，墨韵万千，风格各异。此幅榜书，“寿”字开场便似脱缰之马，纵横驰骋，威壮而有气势。“榜书”指大字书，比起小字书难度甚大，使用的笔杆短粗，笔头粗大，挥毫时只能抓执；行笔时全身力度须随肩肘行走，字体的结构布局也都在运筹帷幄之中，故非所有书家能之。 Production placeSingapore Production date 1900 - 1999 Production period20th Century Object categoryCalligraphy MaterialInk on Paper, Ink, Paper Dimensions Length: 62.5 cm Height: 237 cm Length: 91 cm

CollectionSouth & Southeast Asian Collection

Object numberS1980-0388-001-0

Title‘Shou’ in Cursive Script 草书“寿”字

Creator calligrapher and seal engraver Reverend Song Nian became a monk in his youth. He was a self-taught painter, and was renowned for his highly unique style. After moving to Singapore in 1963, he became involved in the reconstruction of the Putige (the Buddhist Lodge). He was the abbot of the lodge until his death in 1997. Reverend Song Nian was a highly respected exponent of ancient writing and the historical development of Chinese characters. He was also an accomplished calligrapher who specialised in oracle bone and seal scripts, such as Zhongdingwen (bronze vessel inscription), Shiguwen (Stone Drum inscription), big and small seal scripts, Iron Wire Seal Script and the Three Bows Seal Scripts. His mastery of the many variations of official scripts was reflected in the way he grafted different calligraphic scripts to form one composite character. He was also able to inject a unique style in each of the official scripts he practiced.19111997Song Nian

DescriptionIn 1990, Rev. Songnian organised a charity calligraphy exhibition featuring one hundred Shou (Longevity)written in seal, official, running, cursive and regular scripts. The hundred works demonstrated varing rhythms and styles. The above Shou exudes the rush of a racing steed. This calligraphy is a bang shu which refers to big characters. Big characters are harder to execute than small characters. The shaft of the brush is shorter and thicker than a normal brush. Similarly, its brush is thicker than normal. When writing with such a brush, the calligrapher has to grip its shaft with the whole palm, with the thumb facing downwards when holding the brush upright. In the course of writing, the caliigrapher's body is required to synchronise with the movement of his shoulder and elbow, and the character is required to be executed according to plan. Not all calligraphers have the physical requisites to write bang shu. 松年法师曾于1990年举办“百寿书法义展”，以篆、隶、行、草、楷各体书“寿”字百幅，墨韵万千，风格各异。此幅榜书，“寿”字开场便似脱缰之马，纵横驰骋，威壮而有气势。“榜书”指大字书，比起小字书难度甚大，使用的笔杆短粗，笔头粗大，挥毫时只能抓执；行笔时全身力度须随肩肘行走，字体的结构布局也都在运筹帷幄之中，故非所有书家能之。

Production placeSingapore

Production date 1900 - 1999

Production period20th Century

Object categoryCalligraphy

MaterialInk on Paper, Ink, Paper

Dimensions

Length: 62.5 cm
Height: 237 cm
Length: 91 cm

Details