- 688
Pu Ru 1896-1963
Estimate
70,000 - 90,000 USD
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Description
- Pu Ru
- CALLIGRAPHY IN RUNNING SCRIT OF STUDIES IN ETYMOLOGY
- ink on paper, album of seventy-nine leaves
signed Xishan Yishi Pu Ru, dated renchen (1952), the eighth lunar month, autumn, with a dedication, and with three seal of the artist, jiu wang sun, pu ru, xi huang shang ren
Catalogue Note
Artist's inscriptions:
Preface to Studies in Etymology. When the ancient sages created characters, they observed heaven and earth, comprehending the way of the universe and the principle of the myriad things. From signs auspicious, malicious, regretful, and shameful meanings arose. By virtue of characters, caves were replaced with palaces, and ceramics with bronze vessels, all reflecting the quality of government. With the characters abolished, civilization has reverted to barbarism. Customs and rites are regarded as harmful, culture superfluous. The classics are abandoned, the traditions extinguished. The people comfort themselves with false and simplistic characters in pursuit of ease. Their reckless abandon is without limit. In carrying out this evil conspiracy, they have wrecked the great code of ethics.
When living in Shanghai after fleeing the chaos, I wanted to rectify the misuse of characters. In writing this volume, I drew on my meager learning as well as the classics. I wrote casually, whenever I remembered something, and did not follow the classifications. If the result is ludicrous and mean, I await correction by the learned gentlemen. In autumn on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the renchen year (October 3, 1952). Inscribed by Xishan yishi Pu Ru.
Preface to Studies in Etymology. When the ancient sages created characters, they observed heaven and earth, comprehending the way of the universe and the principle of the myriad things. From signs auspicious, malicious, regretful, and shameful meanings arose. By virtue of characters, caves were replaced with palaces, and ceramics with bronze vessels, all reflecting the quality of government. With the characters abolished, civilization has reverted to barbarism. Customs and rites are regarded as harmful, culture superfluous. The classics are abandoned, the traditions extinguished. The people comfort themselves with false and simplistic characters in pursuit of ease. Their reckless abandon is without limit. In carrying out this evil conspiracy, they have wrecked the great code of ethics.
When living in Shanghai after fleeing the chaos, I wanted to rectify the misuse of characters. In writing this volume, I drew on my meager learning as well as the classics. I wrote casually, whenever I remembered something, and did not follow the classifications. If the result is ludicrous and mean, I await correction by the learned gentlemen. In autumn on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the renchen year (October 3, 1952). Inscribed by Xishan yishi Pu Ru.