Calligraphic Works by King Sukjong, Jia Dao’s Poem

The writing of the 19th King of Joseon, Sukjong. He wrote Jia Dao (779-843) of Tang’s five-word line poem 「Looking for a hermit who could not be found」 in a semi-cursive hand. Some say this work was Hyeok Son’s 「Visiting Yangjonsa」. It is a valuable work showing Sukjong’s semi-cursive writing.

* Text and annotation
松下問童子  / Under the pine tree, I asked a boy where his teacher is.
言師採藥去  / He said he is gone to dig up the herb.
只在此山中  /  He is surely in this mountain.
雲深不知處  /  But he is nowhere to be found under the thick cloud.