Gao's calligraphy salutes the Tang Dynasty poem by Wei Yingwu, in which Wei expresses a longing for his reclusive friend. 怀君属秋夜，散步咏凉天。空山松子落，幽人应未眠。Missing you on this late autumn night,Walking around feeling cold on these frosty days.Thinking now of the empty mountain but for the falling pine nuts, Reclusive friend would not be sleeping.I love ...
In Tibetan culture, the Gesang flower (the tiny Sims Azalea) has three great meanings:The first is 'happiness and beauty'.The second is to be 'cherished in the present'. (Fading soon after flowering, the Gesang flower is a reminder to appreciate good things while you have them.)The third is 'perseverance'. (Although its blooms fade, the Gesang flow...
The painting depicts Zhongkui (鍾馗), a fierce deity in Chinese mythology who exorcises evil spirits. His image is displayed in homes and businesses for protection. It's said that Zhongkui gained top honors in the imperial examinations, but the emperor denied him the title of Zhuangyuan (top scorer), due to his appearance. In a suicidal rage, Zhongku...
Look up at the 'Lantingji Xu'. It's a masterpiece that wasn't planned – it just happened. I like that. Written by governor/poet/calligrapher Wang Xizhi in AD353, it's the preface to a collection of poems written by literati who'd gathered at Wang's invitation for a day of writing and revelry. They spent the day drinking wine spirit, ...
