Ornamental paper in Sung Dynasty on "Pine Wind Pavillion Poem"

reiji Yamashina, 2003/09/21

Abstracts

Observing ornamental paper in Southen Sung Dynasty on "Pine Wind Pavillion Poem" , I think Northen Sung calligraphy was produced among more dainty circles than I had thought.

Introduction

HON-AMI-GIRE Beutiful ornamental papers are often used for calligraphy in later Heian period Japan(11-12th century). We sometimes appreciate the ornament than the calligraphy. This is detail of Hon-AMI-GIRE( a copy of "KOKIN-SYU", 11th century). This flower printed paper is regarded imported paper from Sung dynasty china.
Waxed papers and Quolong Emperor Style papers in Ching dynasty are colourful, but most chinese calligraphies are written on white paper.
In Sho-so-In Collection( Nara, Japan) has colorful dyied papers on which imaginary animals among clouds are drown. Maybe, it reflects later Tang taste.
Later Heian period ornamental paper was imported from Sung dynasty china, at least 11th century. Since a lot of such ornamental papers have survived for 800 years, the amount imported was very large. It shoud be internatinal manufacture business at that time.
I felt strange that we couldn't many ornamental papers among chinese calligraphies survived from Song dynasty.
Many scholars regarded such ornamental papers have survived only in Japan, and not in China. However, I've concluded that several ornamental papers survived with chinese calligraphy from 11th century.

Pine Wind Pavillion Poem Handscroll

Pine Wind PavillionPine Wind Pavillion
This handscroll "Pine Wind Pavillion" is the representative of Huang Tingjian(1045-1107) on its quality, history, style, and condition. In November 1999/11, I found large floral patterns printed on the paper.
On each sheet of white paper, one glove of Vegetables and flowers is daintily printed with white. They are refined and gorgeous. Usually, you overlook it. Changing your viewpoint to a sharp angle, you can see these patterns on the paper. Before then, I appreciated this handscroll two times, but I couldn't find them.
All Photographes (I saw) can't take these patterns. However, these pictures show white/light lines and bands in strokes of brashes. When writing with brush on pattern printed paper, it often happened. These light lines are traces of patterns.
Pine Wind Pavillion Recently I aquired its coulour colotype reproduction. Amazingly, the patterns are clear on it. It is clearer than the real which I found in National Palace Museum in Taipei. Some photograph technique may have it more distinct. Enlarged IMAGE E

These pattern changed my impression on this masterpiece. I thought it a simple, strong, and stoic. Now I think it refined and gorgious masterpice to gift for VIP.

Another Examples

Are there another calligraphies on such ornamented paper? An-chi(1683- ?) described such ornamented papers about some calligraphies in his catalogue(ACE 1743). Folowing An-chi, in 2000, autumn, I found "Tao-shen Tie" bi Cai-xiang(ACE1012-1067) on an decorated paper in National Palace Museum in Taipei. The pattern is more modest than "Pine Trees" and likes brocade pattern.
In OSAKA MUNICIPAL MUSEUM, OSAKA, has "Li-Pai Poems" by Su-shi(ACE1036-1101) which is former ABE-collection. Its paper has gooses and leeds picture style decoration. These white lines became very faint so difficult to observe. I had doubted its authenticity for such decorated paper. Descovering "Pine Tree" ornament, I have thrown away such suspicion.
Searching carefully, such examples will become increase.

Conclusion

I think these ornament papers suggest Northen Sung Calligraphy more dainty and gorgious than I thought.

Return HOME