It is said that within the Deng state was the town of Shitou with a dense population
and all the houses aligned along the riverbank. The town was filled with bad folks and
those who did good was rare. Only the elder Choi on the east side was a giving person
and never befell arguments. His wife, Zhang, was a gentle soul with a good grasp over
the household. Their son Ching was eighteen, smart and bright, cherished by both.
One day, an old monk came to their house for alms who said, “I am a travelling monk
from the mountain of Wutai. I caught news that the host of this house was giving, thus
came for alms of a warm meal.” Elder Choi fully dressed himself and welcomed the
monk at the main house, bowing his head saying, “I beg your forgiveness for not
welcoming you at the gate.” The monk hurried to stop the bow and said, “It was me
who was lacking manners, bothering you for this meeting.” Choi was pleased and
ordered a great Buddhist meal be prepared for the monk. At the table, he asked the
intention of the monk’s visit, who then replied, “The journey of my pilgrimage
brought me here. I came bearing news for you.” “I would never refuse the request of a
great monk, whether it is for alms or meals.” said Choi. “This bears witness for your
kindness. Yet my intentions were never truly for alms. I came for grave warning that
within days, a great flood shall befall this place. You should prepare boats in case of
an evacuation. This is my news, and nothing else.” said the monk. Choi kept nodding
at every sentence, then asked, “When would the flood come?” “The moment when the
stone lion under the plaque of the East street has its eyes filled with blood, is when
your family should pack and leave.” said the monk. “Such disastrous news should be
known among the town folks.” suggested Choi. “Your town is filled with wrongdoers. How would they ever believe this? Even you who bears my warning at heart,
may not escape all calamity that follows.” said the monk. “Will this be a fatal
calamity?” asked Choi. “Worry not. Fetch me ink and I shall leave instructions for
you.” said the monk who then wrote, “Heavens thus brings down flood and raises
wave. If it were animals in need, thou shall lend assist and receive great reward. If it
were men thou come across, ask not. For the debt thou art owed shall become debt
paid with jailtime.” Choi remained confused by these words, and the monk said that
he would understand in due time. After the meal as the monk were about to leave,
Choi had ten silver pieces prepared for the monk. “I am a travelling monk and have
no use of silver.” said the monk, and left without taking the gift.
Rustic and Pure is one of the principles and standards for artistic creation, with
profound aesthetic values and represents a naturalistic, simplicity-within-complexity
beauty that transcends that of the life wisdom of the self. It is life bringing mindful
comfort for the desire-driven material world through the free beauty after magnificent
fulfillment, and creates new height of a different interpretation towards life. The
calligraphy of Hanshan Deching monk mainly includes running and cursive scripts
which puts emphasis on freedom and boundlessness that expresses the understanding
of the true heart. Such free-spirit writings are natural expressions of the Rustic and
Pure, which also coincides with the Zen school’s teaching, “All originates and follows
freewill.” Unintentional at first glance, yet perfectly fits the free and pure at last.
Book of running and cursive scripts, written in 1594 and during Hanshan Deching’s
revisit who, reminiscing the past and the late Master Huang, felt emotions for the
world of the living. This work is continuous and fluctuating and of dignified bearings.
Calligraphy within were written along the middle line, utilizing every fiber of the
brush and creating magnificent lines, which shows that when writing, his mind and
hand were both burdenless, expressing grand emotion and depicting the strength of a
undisturbed maneuver. The ink is moving, its vertical and horizontal changed through
the tip of the brush with indescribable exquisiteness. It also shows the unwavering
spirit of an intrepid young man who incorporated the emotions he wished to express
and vent within the calligraphy.
Words in running script at mountain is a work that touches upon the way to rid
oneself of emotions and its burden. Within dashing strokes, it also shows humility;
Within strength, the penetrating momentum that pours from the tip of brush; Within
posture, sometimes leaning, sometimes straight as a bowstring, sometimes full as skycovering cloud. In terms ofc structure, the size of its font varies in a natural way. As
for colors, the changes between wet and dry, moist and arid are playful and exhausts
one heart’s content.
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