Xu Weixing’s Cursive Poems

[Xu Wei’s Cursive Script Poetry Volume]

Cursive Script Poetry Volume, Ming Dynasty, Xu Wei’s script, paper version, cursive script, 34.5cm vertical, 453.4cm horizontal
The explanatory text of the “Cursive Script Poems” volume
is signed with the following words: “The Taoist Wisteria wrote in the depths of the meander of the blue spring.” Under the words, “The Man of Tianchi Mountain” and “Taoist Wisteria” are stamped. “Gongsun Aunt” is printed at the beginning
The seal includes “Cui Shen Jiancang”, “After Shen 40”, “Yin Mei Book House Collection”, “Shen Shen Appreciation”, “Shen Shen Jiancang”, etc
Xu Wei has written 14 poems in this volume, including seven poems by Li Bai, five poems by Du Fu, one poem by Wang Wei and one poem by himself
This volume is long and has been kept in good writing condition from beginning to end. Although it is not as unrestrained and continuous as cursive script, it is smoother and more flexible than regular script. The shape changes in a variety of ways, either horizontally or sideways, and it is done at will, without affectation, so it has a simple and natural interest. The method of official script is sometimes used in the change of the strokes, so that the characters written are more ancient and elegant. It is a masterpiece of the running script that Xu is good at using the brush. In terms of layout and momentum, it is deeply impressed by the charm of Mi Fu’s calligraphy, with the strokes of Huang and Su. The style of the work is different from Xu Wei’s usual unbridled and arrogant pen, which seems to be his works in his later years.