Auspicious Cranes - Calligraphy 2
Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) was a ruler who cared far more about art than his empire, and this calligraphy sheet captures his mystical obsession. It features the poetic inscription from his famous 'Auspicious Cranes' scroll, describing a vision of cranes circling his palace as a divine Taoist omen. In the opening line, he boldly refers to himself as 'Daojun' (Lord of the Way), blending political power with spiritual delusion. While he is famous for inventing the razor-thin 'Slender Gold' script, this fluid composition—likely accompanied by later colophons from admirers like the monk Laifu seen on the left—shows the dreamy atmosphere he so desperately wanted to inhabit.
- Technique
- Ink calligraphy
- Material
- Silk
Location: Liaoning Provincial Museum