“Thousand Character Essay” in Seal and Clerical Script

Yu He (style name Zizhong, sobriquet Zizhisheng), a native of Hangzhou in Zhejiang, was a scholar of tranquil character who did not seek fame or fortune. Gifted at poetry, he was also skilled in calligraphy, studying extensively from Jin and Tang dynasty masters to achieve considerable depth and success. In his early years, he was even personally instructed by the master Zhao Mengfu (1254-1322), leading to their calligraphy being quite similar. This album features alternating rows of the same characters from the “Thousand-Character Classic” in seal and clerical script. Not only does this make it easier to read, it demonstrates the beauty of both calligraphic forms side by side. The characters in seal script are elongated and solid, the lines thin yet upright. On the other hand, the clerical script characters are angular and open, the brushwork careful and regulated for an elegant style.