Poem (Waking from a Summer Nap) in running script
16th century
Imagine the perfect lazy summer afternoon—that's exactly what Wen Zhengming captured in this 16th-century scroll. As one of the Ming Dynasty's 'Four Masters,' he used a flowing 'running script' style that mimics the relaxed feeling of waking from a nap in a cool, shady hall. Interestingly, Wen was a late bloomer who failed the imperial exams nine times before passing at age 53, yet he became a legend of elegance. The poem describes 'green shade like water' and a 'cool bamboo mat,' with energetic brushstrokes that make the text feel alive and breezy.
- Technique
- Ink on paper, running script calligraphy
- Material
- Paper
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