Eight Character Couplet in Regular Script《楷书八言联》

Xia Jingguan (1875–1953)
Xia Jingguan, courtesy name Jiancheng, pseudonym Ying’an, was from Xinjian, Jiangxi. In the 20th year of the Guangxu reign (1894), he passed the provincial examination. He served as the superintendent of Sanjiang Normal School, Fudan Public School, and China Public School, and as the education commissioner of Jiangsu. During the Republic of China period, he held positions such as the director of the Zhejiang Education Department and the director of the Beijing Library. In his later years, he lived in Shanghai, making a living by selling his paintings.

Xia Jingguan was a renowned lyricist and also skilled in calligraphy and painting during the late Qing and Republic of China periods. His calligraphy traced back from Tang dynasty regular script to Wei stele, possessing a clear and simple quality. It combined the meticulous elegance of Tang calligraphy with the natural spontaneity of stele studies, embodying both the refined and robust qualities. This couplet exemplifies his calligraphic style, with sturdy and elegant brushwork, making it a significant piece of his work.

Translation of couplet: “The inkstone moves like dragon guests, the writing drafts like tiger servants; The cup conveys the wisdom of Lei Zu, the archery uses the skill of Niu Weng.”

夏敬观（1875—1953），字剑丞，号映庵，江西新建人。光绪二十年（1894）举人，历任三江师范学堂、复旦公学和中国公学监督，江苏提学使。民国时期曾任浙江教育厅厅长、北京图书馆馆长等职，晚年居上海以鬻画自给。

夏敬观是清末民国时期著名词人，又工于书画，文人气十足。其书法从唐楷上溯魏碑，质朴气清，既有唐人的工匀，又有碑学的自然率意，庙堂气、金石气俱存。此联书风敦厚清雅，苍健神腴，为其力作。

释文：砚走龙宾，书抽虎仆；杯传蠡母，射用牛翁。