Lot Essay
Ji Kang (223-262) was a famous scholar, poet and composer of music for the qin.
Details
QIU YING (circa 1495-1552) and XU CHU (circa 1530-1570)
Scholar playing the Qin and a Copy of Ji Kang's "Essay on the Qin"
a. Qiu Ying, A Scholar Playing the Qin
Inscribed: "Mr. Gaoyang [Xu Chu] asked [me] to paint a painting of a scholar playing the qin to give to Yingzi of Yongxin".
Signed: "Qiu Ying of Wumen [Suzhou]"
Dated renchen year of the Jiajing era (1532)
One seal of the artist: Qiu Ying Shifu
b. Xu Chu, A Copy of Ji Kang's "Essay on the Qin" and an inscription in small standard script calligraphy (xiao kai shu)
Xu Chu's inscription states: "In yihai year of the Zhengde era (1515), Mr. Yin Zhuzhuang of Yongxin was teaching in Wu [Suzhou]. When I took up my studies with him, I became acquainted with his son Ruwen, with whom I got along very well. In bingzi year (1516), Ruwen parted [from Suzhou] -- already it is seventeen years ago. Yet he still honors me, his inferior, with his thoughts and occasional letters. He writes that he has gained a lot through the study of the qin, and very much likes the "Essay on the Qin" (Qin fu) by Ji Zhongshan [Ji Kang]. He asked me to write it out in calligraphy for him, like the scholars in former times, such as Lu Gong [Yan Zhengqing], Dongpo [Su Shi] and Shangu [Huang Tingjian], who would copy writings by ancient masters to send to old friends thousands of miles away. I was terrified at not being qualified to do such a thing, and have been too busy to get to it. My former teacher [Yin] Zhuzhuang is already dead and buried, while Ruwen and I still live. How can I forget our relationship? I completed this scroll in one day in a good mood, although it is several years overdue. After [copying the essay] I asked Master Qiu Shifu [Qiu Ying] to paint a painting of a scholar playing the qin to the right of the prose. [The scholar] is very noble and elegant. May Ruwen be as Shuye [Ji Kang]. Just when [Ruwen's] brother Ruji just passed by to talk to me, I showed him the scroll and asked him to bring it with him to his brother."
Signed: "A friend, Xu Chu of Wuxia [Suzhou]"
Dated summer of renchen year (1532)
Four seals of the artist: Xu; Chu; Xu Yuan Fu Shi; Di Gao Yang Zhi Mao Yi
Scholar playing the Qin and a Copy of Ji Kang's "Essay on the Qin"
a. Qiu Ying, A Scholar Playing the Qin
Inscribed: "Mr. Gaoyang [Xu Chu] asked [me] to paint a painting of a scholar playing the qin to give to Yingzi of Yongxin".
Signed: "Qiu Ying of Wumen [Suzhou]"
Dated renchen year of the Jiajing era (1532)
One seal of the artist: Qiu Ying Shifu
b. Xu Chu, A Copy of Ji Kang's "Essay on the Qin" and an inscription in small standard script calligraphy (xiao kai shu)
Xu Chu's inscription states: "In yihai year of the Zhengde era (1515), Mr. Yin Zhuzhuang of Yongxin was teaching in Wu [Suzhou]. When I took up my studies with him, I became acquainted with his son Ruwen, with whom I got along very well. In bingzi year (1516), Ruwen parted [from Suzhou] -- already it is seventeen years ago. Yet he still honors me, his inferior, with his thoughts and occasional letters. He writes that he has gained a lot through the study of the qin, and very much likes the "Essay on the Qin" (Qin fu) by Ji Zhongshan [Ji Kang]. He asked me to write it out in calligraphy for him, like the scholars in former times, such as Lu Gong [Yan Zhengqing], Dongpo [Su Shi] and Shangu [Huang Tingjian], who would copy writings by ancient masters to send to old friends thousands of miles away. I was terrified at not being qualified to do such a thing, and have been too busy to get to it. My former teacher [Yin] Zhuzhuang is already dead and buried, while Ruwen and I still live. How can I forget our relationship? I completed this scroll in one day in a good mood, although it is several years overdue. After [copying the essay] I asked Master Qiu Shifu [Qiu Ying] to paint a painting of a scholar playing the qin to the right of the prose. [The scholar] is very noble and elegant. May Ruwen be as Shuye [Ji Kang]. Just when [Ruwen's] brother Ruji just passed by to talk to me, I showed him the scroll and asked him to bring it with him to his brother."
Signed: "A friend, Xu Chu of Wuxia [Suzhou]"
Dated summer of renchen year (1532)
Four seals of the artist: Xu; Chu; Xu Yuan Fu Shi; Di Gao Yang Zhi Mao Yi