Cursive Script Plaque
Yang Fa
Qing Dynasty
- MEDIUM:Ink on paper
- FORMATS:Framed painting
- DIMENSIONS:Height 51 cm; Width 183.5 cm
Introduction
This cursive script work centers on the phrase “qu jin” (去矜), meaning “to let go of arrogance” or “to avoid pride.” The character “jin” (矜) denotes arrogance or boasting, so “qu jin” urges one not to be arrogant or boastful. The phrase is inspired by a passage from the Book of Documents (Shang Shu): “You, by not being arrogant, no one under heaven can rival your ability; You, by not boasting, no one under heaven can compete with your achievements.” Here, Emperor Shun praises Yu the Great for his humility and modesty, noting that because Yu neither prides himself nor boasts of his deeds, no one can match him in skill or merit. The work also references a warning from Laozi to Confucius: “The Master’s arrogance and greed—how could they be considered virtues? They are not to be.”This implies that Confucius was prone to pride and desire, which are undesirable traits. This piece was likely written by Yang Fa for someone named Jingxian (敬先), with “qu jin” serving as his personal motto, symbolizing virtuous character.
During the Daoguang period of the Qing dynasty, this work was collected by the renowned collector Wang Yangdu, and later by Aisin Gioro Pujun, a descendant of the Qing imperial family.
