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Xu shuduan 續書斷

Mar 14, 2023 © Ulrich Theobald

Xu shuduan 續書斷 is a book on the critique of calligraphy. It is actually part (ch. 9, 12) of Zhu Changwen's 朱長文 (1039-1098) book Mochibian 墨池編, but was also dealt with separately and is found in the series Siku quanshu 四庫全書, Shugu congchao 述古叢鈔, Yishu congshu 藝術叢書 and Cangxiutang congshu 藏修堂叢書.

The book of 2 juan length imitates Zhang Huaihuan's 張懷瓘 (early 8th cent.) calligraphy critique Shuduan 書斷 and add information missing in Zhang's original. Zhu discusses painters of the late Tang 唐 (618-907) and the early Song period 宋 (960-1279) according to three categories, namely "inspired" (shen 神), "excellent" (miao 妙), and "competent" (neng 能) and explains the strengths and shortcomings of each calligrapher in detail. He identifies three "inspired" masters, namely Yan Zhenqing 顔真卿 (709-785), Zhang Changshi 張長史 (early 8th cent.), and Li Yangbing 李陽冰 (early 8th cent.), 16 "excellent" masters, and 66 (64) "competent" masters. For about a dozen contemporary artists, Zhu Changwen does not provide a grade of mastery (ch. Xishuo 系説). The book also includes short biographies of 33 persons.

Sources:
Hou Zhanhu 侯占虎 (1996). "Xu shuduan 續書斷", in Zhou Gucheng 周谷城, ed. Zhongguo xueshu mingzhu tiyao 中國學術名著提要, Vol. Yishu 藝術卷 (Shanghai: Fudan daxue chubanshe), 474.
Sun Baofa 孫寶發 (1997). "Xu shuduan 續書斷", in Men Kui 門巋, Zhang Yanjin 張燕瑾, eds. Zhonghua guocui da cidian 中華國粹大辭典 (Xianggang: Guoji wenhua chuban gongsi), 837.
Wu Feng 吳楓, ed. (1987). Jianming Zhongguo guji cidian 簡明中國古籍辭典 (Changchun: Jilin wenshi chubanshe), 821.
Zhu Tianshu 朱天曙, Cheng Yuer 程玉兒 (2021). "Zhu Changwen Xu shuduan yu Yan Zhengqing shenpin diwei de queli 朱長文《續書斷》與顏真卿“神品”地位的確立", Rongbaozhai 榮寶齋, 2021 (2): 148-157.