Poem on reclusion
Calligrapher Zha Sheng Chinese
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Zha Sheng’s talents as a poet and calligrapher won him praise at the early Qing court, where he served as a scholar-official. This transcription of a poem by the famous Northern Song recluse Lin Bu (967–1028) extols the virtues of a simple life, but the message is somewhat at odds with the luxurious gold satin upon which the piece is written. The poem reads, in part:
Bamboo and trees surround my dwelling,
A clear stream provides more than enough excitement.
At ease, a crane lingers a while by the water,
Lazily, bees relax as flowers are few.
—Translation after Shi-yee Liu
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