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Source Description
A poem by the influential Wen Zhengming from Suzhou in southeastern China expresses Wen’s gratitude to the Jiajing emperor (reigned 1522–67) for a gift of embroidered silk bestowed in appreciation of his commendable service. The elegant, well-composed, and energetically written large characters in deep black ink reflect the handwriting of a distinguished scholar-artist. Works of calligraphy by Wen of this large scale are rare.<br>The poem reads:<br><br><em>As I expressed my gratitude to His Majesty by the Goldwater Bridge. <br>This heavenly silk is embroidered with five colors.<br>Resplendent it is, draping over my arm with [designs of] twin dragons.<br>Having received such a gift, I [bowed] in shame over my lack of achievements. <br>Humbly I returned to my rank to observe the grand ceremony.<br>I wish His Majesty shall live on for myriad years,<br>And the sun will always shine upon His trailing robe.</em>
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
160290
label
Poem on Imperial Gift of an Embroidered Silk: Calligraphy in Running-Standard Script (xingkaishu)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
160290
contentType
object
title
Poem on Imperial Gift of an Embroidered Silk: Calligraphy in Running-Standard Script (xingkaishu)
description
A poem by the influential Wen Zhengming from Suzhou in southeastern China expresses Wen’s gratitude to the Jiajing emperor (reigned 1522–67) for a gift of embroidered silk bestowed in appreciation of his commendable service. The elegant, well-composed, and energetically written large characters in deep black ink reflect the handwriting of a distinguished scholar-artist. Works of calligraphy by Wen of this large scale are rare.<br>The poem reads:<br><br><em>As I expressed my gratitude to His Majesty by the Goldwater Bridge. <br>This heavenly silk is embroidered with five colors.<br>Resplendent it is, draping over my arm with [designs of] twin dragons.<br>Having received such a gift, I [bowed] in shame over my lack of achievements. <br>Humbly I returned to my rank to observe the grand ceremony.<br>I wish His Majesty shall live on for myriad years,<br>And the sun will always shine upon His trailing robe.</em>
date
c. 1525
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60756809
creators
31114
genreSpecific
Calligraphy
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
calligraphy: 343.5 x 93.3 cm (135 1/4 x 36 3/4 in.); Overall with knobs: 446 x 125 cm (175 9/16 x 49 3/16 in.)
cul
China, Suzhou, Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
accession
1998.169
Source extras
tec
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
tombstone
Poem on Imperial Gift of an Embroidered Silk: Calligraphy in Running-Standard Script (xingkaishu) (行楷 書), c. 1525. Wen Zhengming (Chinese, 1470–1559). Hanging scroll; ink on paper; calligraphy: 343.5 x 93.3 cm (135 1/4 x 36 3/4 in.); overall with knobs: 446 x 125 cm (175 9/16 x 49 3/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 1998.169
titleInOriginalLanguage
行楷 書
collection
ASIAN - Hanging scroll
inscriptions
inscription
The text of the calligraphy, which is also included in Wen Zhengming's literary compilation, can be translated as follows:
From the throne, this exquisite silk was bestowed on me,/
As I expressed my gratitude to His Majesty by the Goldwater Bridge./
This heavenly silk is embroidered with five colors./
Resplendent it is, draping over my arm with [designs of] twin dragons./
Having received such a gift, I [bowed] in shame over my lack of achievements./
Humbly I returned to my rank to observe the grand ceremony./
I wish His Majesty shall live on for myriad years,/
And the sun will always shine upon His trailing robe.
sortorder
1
citations
citation
Cleveland Museum of Art, “New Cleveland Indian Arrives at the CMA,” November 27, 1998, Cleveland Museum of Art Archives.
citation
Chou, Ju-hsi, "A Grand Gesture", Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine. Vol. 40 no. 02, February 2000.
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: pp. 6–7
citation
May, Sally Ruth, Jane Takac, and Barbara J. Bradley. <em>Knockouts: A Pocket Guide</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 2001.
page_number
Mentioned: no. 82, p. 119; Reproduced: no. 82, p. 77
citation
Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>The CMA Companion: A Guide to the Cleveland Museum of Art</em>. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2014.
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 106
citation
"A Walking Tour." <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine </em>54, no. 1 (January/February 2014): 8–33.
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 32
citation
Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Museum Masters: 2016-17 Companion Guide.</em> Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 2016.
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 34
citation
Spee, Clarissa von. "From the Silk Road to the Imperial Court: Chinese Textiles in the Cleveland Museum of Art." <em>Arts of Asia</em> 48, no. 3 (May-June 2018): 50–56.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 53, fig. 5
creditline
John L. Severance Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:19:50.758000
sourceId
160290
dept
Chinese Art
coll
ASIAN - Hanging scroll
med
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
creatorTags
male
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
30bcf61563724374