The thin golden imperial pen and the wonderful scroll are quiet in the hall of Chen Bo Palace
Speaking of the author of "Auspicious Crane Picture", there are also quite tragic legends to tell: Zhao Ji, Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, due to political Foolish, corrupt, weak and incompetent, he once acted in a historical tragedy in which the Jin Dynasty was humiliated and half of the Song Dynasty was lost. Both father and son "sit in a well and look at the sky" in the Five Kingdoms City, and finally died of depression. However, Zhao Ji, who "alone cannot be a king", showed extraordinary artistic attainments. He stayed away from dandies in his early years, liked to hang out with scribes, and devoted himself to the creation of calligraphy and painting. His cursive script is like a dragon swimming and a tiger leaping, and his unique "thin gold style" is a model for later generations to study. His talents in calligraphy and painting have added a strong touch to China's splendid art history. During his 27 years in office, due to his advocacy, the Xuanhe Painting Academy began to flourish, and he made great contributions to the development of traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting art. "Auspicious Crane Picture" is in the collection of Liaoning Provincial Museum. It is ink and color on silk. It is 51.8 cm long and 138.5 cm wide. Both the composition and technique are exquisite.
This picture depicts the Xuande Gate in Bianliang surrounded by colorful clouds, with flying cranes circling in the sky, and two cranes standing above the tail of the owl, echoing each other. Only the backbone of the palace gate is visible in the picture, highlighting the gathering of cranes, creating a mysterious and auspicious atmosphere amidst the solemnity and solemnity. This painting changes the traditional composition method of conventional flower and bird paintings, filling the sky with flying cranes. The line of eaves not only reflects the soaring cranes, but also gives the picture a storyline. This is a bold attempt in the history of Chinese painting. The painting technique is particularly exquisite. The cranes in the picture are like clouds and mist, and their postures are ever-changing, with no one the same. What's more exciting is that the sky is full of azure, with a thin halo of rays of light, and the colors are bright. The crane's body is painted in pink and ink, and its eyes are dotted with raw lacquer, making the whole picture full of life.
At the end of the volume are the inscriptions and poems in Huizong's thin gold book, with the inscription "Imperial Painting and Writing" and the signature "One of the World". Looking at his calligraphy style, the pen is strong and sharp, and the side peaks are like orchids. Bamboo, the beautiful spirit overflows between the lines. The emergence of "thin gold style" enriched the personalized style of our country's calligraphy art and had a great influence on later generations.