Han Yu’s “Mountain Rock” Poem in Running Cursive Script《行草韩愈《山石》诗轴》

Zhang Ruitu (1570–1641)
Zhang Ruitu, courtesy name Chang Gong, pseudonyms Ershui, Guoting Shanren, Jiezi Jushi, Pingdeng Jushi, among others, was from Jinjiang, Fujian. He achieved the highest scholarly honor in the 35th year of Wanli (1607) and was appointed as a compiler at the Hanlin Academy. Recognized by Wei Zhongxian, he entered the cabinet as the Minister of Rites in the 6th year of Tianqi (1626). Zhang Ruitu was renowned for his calligraphy, and alongside Dong Qichang, Xing Tong, and Mi Wanzhong, he was highly esteemed. Many of the inscriptions on Wei Zhongxian’s temples were penned by him.

“Han Yu’s “Mountain Rock” Poem in Running Cursive Script” (1628)
Compared to his calligraphy on scrolls, Zhang Ruitu rarely dated his hanging scrolls. This piece of running-cursive script features Han Yu’s poem “Mountain Rock,” dated the summer of the first year of Chongzhen (1628) and written on a boat in the Jihe River, which is quite rare. At the age of 59, Zhang was returning home after resigning from office. Han Yu’s poem describes the perilous mountain paths and difficult travel, perhaps reflecting Zhang’s own uncertain future after Wei Zhongxian’s execution. The instability of the boat led to errors in some characters, and the cramped space restrained his usually bold style, resulting in a calm and substantial work with high artistic value.

张瑞图（1570—1641），字长公，号二水，别号果亭山人、芥子居士、平等居士等，福建晋江人。万历三十五年（1607）中探花，授翰林院编修。受魏忠贤所赏识，于天启六年（1626）以礼部尚书入阁。张瑞图特擅书法，与董其昌、邢侗、米万钟并称，魏氏的生祠碑文多出其手。

张瑞图的立轴书法相对于卷册来说鲜书年款，而此件行草书韩愈《山石》诗轴不仅写了时间——崇祯元年（1628）夏五月，还写明了地点——济河舟中，颇为罕见。时年作者五十九岁，正处于辞官南归途中。韩愈这首诗主旨是表达山路的险峻和行路的艰难，或许张瑞图已经预感到前途未卜，因为魏忠贤在去年崇祯帝即位之初即被处死，自己虽然暂得辞官归隐，但随时可因与阉党的密切关系而受到清算。因行船不稳，所以首行“肥”、二行“足”、四行“鞿”等字存在误笔墨污的情况。同时船上空间逼仄，这件书法剑拔弩张之势有所收敛，静穆沉厚的意态较足，在张瑞图传世作品中风格较为特别，艺术价值颇高。

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