''Huaisu's'' ''Autobiography'' () is a representative Chinese calligraphy work written by the renowned
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
Chinese calligrapher
Huaisu
250px, One of Huai Su's surviving works
Huaisu (, 737–799), courtesy name Zangzhen (), was a Buddhist monk and calligrapher of the Tang dynasty, famous for his cursive calligraphy. Fewer than 10 pieces of his works have survived. One of his ...
in 777 AD. It is often considered today to be one of the best written
cursive script () works in Chinese calligraphy. The work measures 28.3 cm by 755 cm and is currently kept in the
National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum, also known as Taipei Palace Museum, is a national museum headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in Beijing in 1925, the museum was re-established in Shilin District, Shilin, Taipei, in 1965, later expanded with a S ...
, Taipei. However, recent studies on this particular piece kept in the
National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum, also known as Taipei Palace Museum, is a national museum headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in Beijing in 1925, the museum was re-established in Shilin District, Shilin, Taipei, in 1965, later expanded with a S ...
revealed that it was likely a
Northern Song dynasty
The Song dynasty ( ) was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Ten Kingdoms, endin ...
modelling replica () of the original;
there are also other replica versions of ''Huaisu's Autobiography''.
Despite the controversy surrounding its authenticity, the work is still renowned for its dynamics and great variations in sizes among different characters while still maintaining overall aesthetics.
Notes
{{reflist
External links
Huai Su's Autobiography: Modelling (Shu Version), History, English Translation and A Preliminary Study- a detailed analysis and translation of Huai Su's Autobiography.
Chinese calligraphy
Tang dynasty art
777
Works of calligraphy
8th century in art
National Palace Museum