Artist: Wang Anshi (1021-1086)

Date: Northern Song (960-1127), dated 1085

Dimensions: Height 29.9 cm, Width 119.0 cm

Material: Ink on paper

Gift of Wang Nanping and Fang Shuyan

• Object Type：
  • CALLIGRAPHY
• Location：
  • Chinese Calligraphy Gallery
• Tag：
  • surangama-sutra running script handscroll wang anshi northern song 1085 ink paper

Wang Anshi (1021-1086) is also known by his zi (designated name) Jiefu and his hao (literary name) Banshan. He was a native of Linchuan in Jiangxi. He became a jinshi (a successful candidate in the imperial examination) in the second year (1042) of the Qingli era, and rose to the chief minister of the court. He was adept in cursive script and running script. This scroll is an excerpt related to the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara from the Surangama-Sutra. Written with light ink and swift strokes, the brushwork conveys a sense of ease and tranquillity. Wang Anshi wrote this piece in the eighth year (1085) of the Yuanfeng era, at the age of 65.

【Special Exhibition】 Treasure of Prosperity: Gifts for the Shanghai Museum