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Source Description
Written in graceful calligraphy with well-composed characters, the artist communicates his thoughts and state of mind in four poems. Characters written in dark, thick strokes convey rhythm, and indicate the moment after the writer had paused to recharge his brush with ink. Chen Jiru was a native of Huating (modern Shanghai). His calligraphy style resembles that of his friend, influential calligrapher Dong Qichang (1555–1636). Unlike Dong, Chen did not pursue government service: he burned his Confucian robes, declined a summons to serve at court, and immersed himself in literature, calligraphy, and painting.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
163506
label
Four Poems: Calligraphy in Cursive Script (xingshu)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
163506
contentType
object
title
Four Poems: Calligraphy in Cursive Script (xingshu)
description
Written in graceful calligraphy with well-composed characters, the artist communicates his thoughts and state of mind in four poems. Characters written in dark, thick strokes convey rhythm, and indicate the moment after the writer had paused to recharge his brush with ink. Chen Jiru was a native of Huating (modern Shanghai). His calligraphy style resembles that of his friend, influential calligrapher Dong Qichang (1555–1636). Unlike Dong, Chen did not pursue government service: he burned his Confucian robes, declined a summons to serve at court, and immersed himself in literature, calligraphy, and painting.
date
1500s-1600s
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60755045
creators
39911
genreSpecific
Calligraphy
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Calligraphy section: 27 x 195 cm (10 5/8 x 76 3/4 in.)
cul
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
accession
2004.65
Source extras
tec
handscroll; ink on gold speckled paper
tombstone
Four Poems: Calligraphy in Cursive Script (xingshu), 1500s-1600s. Chen Jiru (Chinese, 1558–1639). Handscroll; ink on gold speckled paper; calligraphy section: 27 x 195 cm (10 5/8 x 76 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Dr. Roger Y.K. and Mrs. Evangeline C. Hsu, Dr. Daphne T. Hsu, and Dr. Jeffrey T. Hsu in honor of Dr. Ju-hsi Chou, 2004.65
collection
ASIAN - Handscroll
inscriptions
inscription_translation
"Immortals Playing Chess"
Green hair grows on the red terrace,
The cottage stands by the ten thousand pines.
The immortal guests have not exchanged their names.
Playing chess,
They do not know each other. As the clouds come,
The chess board is darkened; As the clouds go,
Black and white appears.
Only the white-bearded ape watches by the side,
Without any sign of fear.
inscription_translation
"Fishermen"
Went fishing yesterday; going fishing today.
Yesterday the fishing was non-stop,
Searching out fish on a new shore.
Today fishing by the river is leisurely.
Selling the fish,
For a little cash.
A seven-feet fishing line and a half-slanting rod.
The old man is as busy as usual.
Throwing away success,
With the fishing rod
He sits in solitude in the depth of nature.
inscription_translation
"Composed while Escaping the Heat"
My humble body is resting under the tree.
A guest is passing through the eastern pavilion.
My robe is dry;
The collar tinted with dew.
How priceless to appreciate the pine-sweeping breeze!
Stream herbs grow in the direction of the mountains.
Annotating the Classics
To express gratitude to the ancient men;
Traveling no farther than a mile
To become neighbors
And to view the valley in the east.
inscription_translation
"Composed in a Dream"
The immortals are ashamed of worldly pleasures.
They live in recluse to attain happiness.
Dreams pass among the clouds,
And when clouds pass, chill fills one’s dreams.
All the birds go in pairs,
There isn’t a mountain without yellow flowers.
Attaining sudden enlightenment,
But do not forget one’s origins.
formerAccessionNumbers
60.2001
creditline
Gift of Dr. Roger Y.K. and Mrs. Evangeline C. Hsu, Dr. Daphne T. Hsu, and Dr. Jeffrey T. Hsu in honor of Dr. Ju-hsi Chou
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:30:18.556000
sourceId
163506
dept
Chinese Art
coll
ASIAN - Handscroll
med
handscroll; ink on gold speckled paper
creatorTags
male
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
31ef9f1c91398a9c