Artist: Zhao Puchu

Date: Modern, dated 1987

Dimensions: Height 84.0 cm, Width 35.0 cm

Material: Ink on paper

• Object Type：
  • CALLIGRAPHY
• Location：
  • Zhao Puchu Gallery
• Tag：
  • couplet regular script hanging scroll zhao puchu 1987 ink paper

This is a Buddhist couplet written by Zhao Puchu. The 'Eight Legions of Devas and Nāgas' (in Chinese, 天龙八部) mentioned in the first sentence refer to the eight types of Buddhist deities who often listen to the Buddha's preaching. The second sentence comes from the 'Auspicious Gatha' in the Ritual for Distribution of Food to Starving Ghosts. Zhao Puchu mentioned in his comment that this work was just a try instead of being a formal calligraphic work. His calligraphy was manifested in well-balanced structure of characters, weighty brush strength, and wet, thick-ink strokes. The work was created in 1987 when Zhao was eighty-one.