Inscription for Gaozong's Imperial Order to Yue Fei

Inscription for Gaozong's Imperial Order to Yue Fei (題宋高宗賜岳飛手敕)

Wen Zhengming (文徵明, 1470-1559), Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

Handscroll, ink on paper, 46.5 x 356.6 cm, National Palace Museum, Taipei

       A colophon for this work says Mr. Shen of Wuzhong dug up a stone engraving of an imperial order by the Southern Song emperor Gaozong. Wen Zhengming then wrote an inscription, putting more blame on Gaozong (高宗) than Prime Minister Qin Hui (秦檜) for the demise of the Song, which was a unique historical opinion. In this work of large characters in running script, the brush force is strong yet free and untrammeled. Though written only a few days before Wen Zhengming passed away at the Chinese age of 90, it is not slacking in the least.