Scroll of Seven Cursive Characters by Master Rai Itsuan 頼聿庵先生七字草行経本軸
0:00/1:34
Narrado por Jorge Obregón
Narrado por Jorge Obregón
A Confucian scholar, Rai Itsuan was the eldest son of the renowned intellectual Rai San’yō, whose work is featured in the first section of this exhibition. He taught at the Hiroshima domain and was known for his calligraphy, as well as editing his father’s writings. It is said that in his later years he struggled with alcohol, which, in light of the content of the piece on display, may suggest that this calligraphy dates from that period.
In this work, Itsuan transcribes a verse from the poem Song of Xiangyang 襄陽歌, written by the famous Chinese poet Li Bai 李白 (701–762) during the Tang dynasty 唐. The verse uses the metaphor of a “jade mountain” to refer to the Daoist recluse Ji Kang 嵇康 (223–263), who would collapse only when drunk. In the context of the full poem, the line encourages the enjoyment of good wine and indulgence in the pleasures of the moment. The energetic and unrestrained brushwork in this piece strongly echoes the spirit of modern Japanese avant-garde calligraphy.
A Confucian scholar, Rai Itsuan was the eldest son of the renowned intellectual Rai San’yō, whose work is featured in the first section of this exhibition. He taught at the Hiroshima domain and was known for his calligraphy, as well as editing his father’s writings. It is said that in his later years he struggled with alcohol, which, in light of the content of the piece on display, may suggest that this calligraphy dates from that period.
In this work, Itsuan transcribes a verse from the poem Song of Xiangyang 襄陽歌, written by the famous Chinese poet Li Bai 李白 (701–762) during the Tang dynasty 唐. The verse uses the metaphor of a “jade mountain” to refer to the Daoist recluse Ji Kang 嵇康 (223–263), who would collapse only when drunk. In the context of the full poem, the line encourages the enjoyment of good wine and indulgence in the pleasures of the moment. The energetic and unrestrained brushwork in this piece strongly echoes the spirit of modern Japanese avant-garde calligraphy.
A Confucian scholar, Rai Itsuan was the eldest son of the renowned intellectual Rai San’yō, whose work is featured in the first section of this exhibition. He taught at the Hiroshima domain and was known for his calligraphy, as well as editing his father’s writings. It is said that in his later years he struggled with alcohol, which, in light of the content of the piece on display, may suggest that this calligraphy dates from that period.
In this work, Itsuan transcribes a verse from the poem Song of Xiangyang 襄陽歌, written by the famous Chinese poet Li Bai 李白 (701–762) during the Tang dynasty 唐. The verse uses the metaphor of a “jade mountain” to refer to the Daoist recluse Ji Kang 嵇康 (223–263), who would collapse only when drunk. In the context of the full poem, the line encourages the enjoyment of good wine and indulgence in the pleasures of the moment. The energetic and unrestrained brushwork in this piece strongly echoes the spirit of modern Japanese avant-garde calligraphy.