Poem Written in a Boat on the Wu River (detail) Mi Fu (1052–1107) Handscroll; ink on paper; 12 5/16 x 220 1/4 in. (31.3 x 559.8 cm) Gift of John M. Crawford Jr., in honor of Profesor Wen Fong, 1984 Ex coll.: John M. Crawford, Jr. (1984.174) Why is there only writing in this image? The same tools (brush, ink, silk, and paper) are used for both writing and painting. Chinese is traditionally written in columns from top to bottom and right to left. There are strict rules about the order and execution of individual brushstrokes to form characters. But like the painter, the calligrapher is allowed the freedom to express his thoughts and feelings by the choice of calligraphic style he uses to write his characters, as seen in this handscroll. In China, calligraphy is considered a higher or purer form of artistic expression than painting. Both verbal and visual communication can be achieved with a single Chinese character. By looking at the character for mountain, which resembles one central peak surrounded by two smaller peaks, one can see the visual relationship of the characters to their meaning. Similarly, the flowing nature of water is suggested visually in the character for water. Next Menu