函関紫気図巻-巻首-王時敏
Think of this as the ancient Chinese equivalent of a 'Welcome' mat, but specifically for sages. The four massive characters read 'Purple Qi from Hangu Pass' (reading right to left), referencing a famous legend where a guard spotted a purple mist heralding the arrival of the philosopher Laozi. Written by Wang Shimin—a VIP of the early Qing dynasty art world and leader of the 'Four Wangs'—this piece uses a bold, archaic Clerical script that looks sturdy and ancient. While the metadata mentions Zhang Hong, the signature on the far left ('Written by Wang Shimin of Loudong') clearly identifies this as the grand title page for a larger handscroll.
- Technique
- Ink calligraphy (Clerical script)
- Material
- Paper