Tang Dynasty Poems Road in Eastern Zhejiang
◎ Duration：2020.12.27—2021.2.26
◎ Venue：Zhejiang Exhibition Hall
◎ Host：Zhejiang Institute of Culture and History
China Academy of Art
Traveling back through ancient art and poems
The Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) was one of the most thriving times in China’s history and produced the 「golden age」 of classic Chinese poetry. Even today, about 2,300 Tang Dynasty poems are still popular among Chinese speakers around the world.
The eastern part of Zhejiang Province attracted an endless stream of poets during the Tang Dynasty by virtue of its undulating hills, tranquil bamboo forests and enriched culture. Renowned poets, including Li Bai (AD 701-762), Du Fu (AD 712-770) and Bai Juyi (AD 772-846), visited this area and wrote well-known poems about the landscape.
In the late 1980s, historians and litterateurs came up with the concept 「Tang Dynasty Poem Road in Eastern Zhejiang,」 referring to a track linking scenic and cultural spots that once attracted poets to the area.
After years of research, the route has been established, starting from Xiling Wharf on the Qiantang River, tracing East Zhejiang Canal, Cao』e River, Tanxi Creek, Mount Tianmu and ending at Mount Tiantai. During the 300 year dynasty, around 500 poets wrote more than 1,500 poems inspired by the view of this route.
In 2020, groups from the China Academy of Art and Zhejiang Institute of Culture and History spent 17 days walking 1,925 kilometers along this route. They visited hamlets and cultural relics in seclusion, some of which are located in off the beaten track locations and hidden in forests.
Professors and students from the CAA created a series of artworks inspired by views along the route which are on display in an exhibition at Zhejiang Exhibition Hall through February 26.
Since ancient poems often depicted secluded landscapes, highlighting man’s insignificance against nature, and the poets』 detached attitude toward life, the exhibition aspires to rebuild that spiritual world through art.
Tang Dynasty literatus traveled throughout eastern Zhejiang, especially when they faced setbacks in their pursuits of political careers, so the mountains and rivers along the route won their hearts.
The Shanxi River and Mount Tianmu are at the heart of the 「Tang Dynasty Poems Road in Eastern Zhejiang.」
According to historical records, Xinchang and Shengzhou counties were called Shanxian County during the Tang Dynasty. The Shanxi River, a tributary of the Qiantang River, runs through the area, while Tianmu Mountain is at the southern edge.
Some of the exhibition’s highlights are large hanging silk drapes painted with landscapes, figures and animals themed around Mount Tianmu and the Shanxi River.
Li Bai, the Tang Dynasty’s 「Immortal Poet,」 visited the mountain and river, marveling at their grandeur. He then created the popular poem 「Mount Tianmu Ascended in a Dream.」
「This poem inspired us, and we try to understand ancient scholars』 moods and thoughts when they visited this mountain,」 said Professor Liu Haiyong of CAA. 「Also, we challenged ourselves by drawing on large silk cloths, which is more difficult than painting on traditional rice paper.」
During the Tang Dynasty, poets traveled along the Shanxi River to reach the mountains they wanted to see. After visiting Mount Tianmu, they commonly headed to Mount Tiantai where the Tiantai Sect began. Some literatus retreated to temples at Tiantai, searching for inner peace and detached attitudes.
The sect is an important school of Buddhist teaching in Asia. One of its most popular sites is Guoqing Temple which dates back as far as the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618) when emperors encouraged the spread of Buddhism across the country.
Visitors to the exhibition can see watercolor and ink-wash paintings portraying Mount Tiantai’s landscape-lush vegetation, hills and dales shrouded in mist, temples and stone bridges hidden in forests, small waterfalls running over ragged cliffs and oddly shaped pine trees.
In addition to honoring the region’s landscape, poets also praised people’s ingenuity in making handicrafts.
In ancient times, Yue Kiln was popular with the imperial court by its elaborate grayish green celadon. Among them, secret color porcelain (秘色瓷) was considered the best porcelain ever produced in China.
Tang Dynasty poet Lu Guimeng was obsessed with mise celadon and wrote a famous poem to glorify its beauty.
For the exhibition, calligrapher Luo Hengguang wrote a cursive script version of this poem.
In addition, Ye Wenfu’s ink-wash painting depicts ancient people firing celadons. His heavy strokes and rustic style take visitors back to those glo rious days.
Exhibition Album
來源 ｜Shanghai Daily 1月7日第8版
展覽攝影 ｜申博
原標題：《上海日報整版報導唐詩之路藝術展：Traveling back through ancient art and poems》
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