Calligraphy in Semi-Cursive Style (xing-caoshu)
Yueshan Daozong (Chinese, 1629–1709)
c. 1660–1709
Medium
hanging scroll; ink on paper
Dimensions
179 × 31.3 cm · painting only: 128.9 × 29 cm
Classification
Calligraphy
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Gow
Accession Number
2003.354
Tags
male
About this artwork
This bold calligraphy written by Yueshan, an Ōbaku school monk, consists of five characters tentatively translated as “Pine trees singing in the wind.” The line is from Cold Mountain Poems (Hanshan shi). Cold Mountain is the pen name (hao) of the poet monk Han Shan, as well as the name of a place. In one poem Han describes getting lost on the road to Cold Mountain, perhaps an allusion to the search for religious enlightenment.