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Wang Ao's running script calligraphy of "Ode to the Two Mountains of Dongting" and "Dialogue on the Goodness of Human Nature" from the Ming Dynasty

This is a large-scale calligraphy work in running script by Wang Ao, a prominent official and literary figure of the Ming Dynasty, around the age of 70. It combines his two representative works, "Ode to the Two Mountains of Dongting" and "The Dialogue on the Goodness of Nature".

Inheriting history

Wang Ao, the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty, personally wrote "Ode to the Two Mountains of Dongting" and "Dialogue on the Goodness of Nature" in running-cursive script, combining them into a handscroll that became a timeless artistic treasure that blends literature, philosophy, and calligraphy. In terms of historical transmission, these two masterpieces were passed down through generations along with his personal collection, "Zhenze Collection." After the Qing Dynasty, due to their profound cultural value and orthodox academic status, they were officially collated and included in national-level literary masterpieces such as the "Complete Library of the Four Treasuries" and the "Complete Collection of Ancient and Modern Books."

Academic background and publications

These two works emerged from the academic trends of Neo-Confucianism's transformation and the revival of classical literary styles in the mid-Ming Dynasty. "Ode to the Two Mountains of Dongting" is included in Volume 1 of "Zhenze Collection"; "Dialogue on the Goodness of Nature" is included in Volume 34 of the same collection. In terms of bibliographical records, both articles are recorded in the "Collected Works" section of the 36-volume edition of "Zhenze Collection" in the Qing Dynasty's "Complete Library of the Four Treasuries"; among them, "Dialogue on the Goodness of Nature" is specifically recorded in the "Arts and Literature" section of "Complete Collection of Ancient and Modern Books" under the "Neo-Confucianism Compilation" section under "Studies and Conduct" due to its profound philosophical speculation.

Authoritative verification

This scroll has been rigorously examined by experts and authoritative auction houses. It bears Wang Ao's signature and seals such as "Grand Scholar's Seal" at the beginning and end, which are consistent with the brushwork of the fragments in the collection of the Palace Museum. Furthermore, it was praised by Dong Qichang as "the learning of a caged goose family" and is generally recognized as a rare authentic masterpiece from Wang Ao's later years.

Detailed Interpretation | Wang Ao's Running Script Calligraphy of "Ode to the Two Mountains of Dongting Lake" and "Dialogue on the Goodness of Human Nature" from the Ming Dynasty

The picture shows a panoramic view of the nearly six-meter-long scroll, written in running script on paper with ink. The brushstrokes are unique, clear, and unrestrained, showing the grand style of Wang Ao in his later years, where both the person and the calligraphy have matured.

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