Artist: Liu Yong (1719-1805)
Date: Qing (1644-1911)
Dimensions: Height 129.4 cm, Width 62.6 cm
Material: Ink on paper
Gift of Yeung Tit Min et al.
Liu Yong (1719-1805) is also known by his zi (designated name) Chongru and hao (literary name) Shi'an, native to Zhucheng in Shandong. A jinshi (a successful candidate of imperial examination) in the 16th year (1751) of the Qianlong reign, he was once the Grand Secretariat and endowed with the title taibao (Grand Guardian of the heir-apparent) and the posthumous name Wenqing. Adept in calligraphy, he wrote with firm strokes and thick dark ink. Thus, he was also known as "Prime Minister of Thick Ink". This work discusses Huang Tingjian's calligraphy that transcribes Liu Yuxi's poem Visiting the Fubo Temple, written with thick ink and constrained brushstrokes.