Details
CollectionSouth & Southeast Asian Collection
Object numberS1980-0503-001-0
TitleA Poem by Tang Wenru in Running-cursive Script 行草书唐温如七绝诗
DescriptionThis scroll was a gift by Singapore calligrapher Khoo Seow Hwa to the Lee Kong Chian Art Museum of the National University of Singapore.
This is the poem Ti Longyangxian Qingcaohu (Poem on Qingcao Lake, Longyang County). It was composed by the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) poet Tang Wenru. "The autumn winds billow across the Dongting Lake/ Creating white crests on the misty waters/ The forlorn and chilling ambience/ Caused the beautiful Xiangjun's hair to turn silver overnight."
This is followed by a portrayal of the poet who is on the boat by the shores of the lake. "Heavily intoxicated with wine I could not tell the difference between sky and lake/ It feels as if I am peddling the oars across the Milky way/ This illusion is but a dream without form, yet filling the entire boat/ weightless but yet so heavy it presses on the stars."
The lines are romantic and charming depicting the poet's delight at finding relief from the hustle and bustle of life in his dreams.
The calligraphy in running script exudes rhythm, form of dance and harmony of music. It captures the romantic and carefree spirit of running script at its best. The two characters at the beginning of the poem, xifeng (western winds) were accentuated to emphasise ther presence in the austere scene. The two characters, manchuan, meaning fully laden boat, appear heavy, bearing the "weight " the boat carrying the poet's "dream". As the "dream" is but an illusion, the fine stroke across the centre of the character bridges the poet from his boat to the heavens.
书文录唐代(618-907)唐温如《题龙阳县青草湖》纪游诗一首:秋风飒飒而起,广袤无垠的洞庭湖水白波渺茫,这般萧瑟凄景,使美丽的湘君一夜间银发满头(诗人悲秋之情隐隐而出);接着再写湖边客船上诗人:酒醉已分不清天在水中,仿佛身在银河荡双桨;这幻觉的“清梦”虽无形体却“满”船,虽无重量却“压”星河。词句浪漫清酣,写出诗人梦中摆脱尘嚣的愉悦。
再欣赏书家之笔墨,简直是诗句的形体舞、和弦乐,一样的潇洒和浪漫。“西风”二字粗重,皆因它是“凄凉景”之祸;饱墨的“满船”二字被“梦”压得沉甸甸,又因“梦”是幻,字中间以细细一横作虹桥,将船上的诗人引渡到了天上。
Artwork text:
西风吹老洞庭波,一夜湘君白发多。醉后不知天在水,满船清梦压星河。
唐温如七绝。
新加坡国立大学李光前文物馆惠存。邱少华
Production placeSingapore
Object categoryCalligraphy
MaterialInk on Paper, Ink, Paper
Dimensions
Height: 116 cm
Length: 45 cm
Height: 194 cm
Length: 69 cm
Length: 45 cm
Height: 194 cm
Length: 69 cm

