Crossing the Frozen River, a poem in running script, undated, by The Kangxi Emperor (1654—1722). Hanging scroll, ink on gold-flecked paper. 131.2×53.3 cm. The Palace Museum, Beijing.
'Crossing the Frozen River', a four-line poem of five characters to a line, in running script
This scroll of calligraphy is inscribed with a poem by the Kangxi Emperor (r. 1662—1722) entitled ‘Crossing the Frozen River’, recorded in juan five of the Second Volume of Imperial Poetry by Qing Shengzu. The poem reads:
Deep clouds hang over ten thousand cavalry, A thousand flags echo in the teeth of the gale. By midnight the river has iced over, the imperial armies cross without fear.
‘Crossing the frozen river’
Below the poem is an added note, reading:
For a time the river was not completely frozen over. No sooner had the marching orders been given to cross the river than it could be crossed as if by walking on flat ground.
The scroll is undated. Combining regular and running scripts, this calligraphy has a profound vigour, as well as an untrammelled, heroic kind of beauty.
