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Shaoxing marks poet's 900th birthday with monumental scroll

ezhejiang.gov.cn| Updated: January 30, 2025 L M S

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An 8.5-meter-long cursive script scroll pays tribute to Lu You in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

To commemorate the 900th anniversary of poet Lu You's birth, calligrapher Tong Yan recently completed an 8.5-meter-long cursive script scroll near Shenyuan Garden in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province.

Cursive script, known for its technical demands, requires impeccable control and rhythm. Tong executed the piece in a single uninterrupted session, wowing onlookers with the fluid movement of his brush and the bold elegance of his composition.

Now in his seventies, Tong has spent more than two decades mastering multiple calligraphy styles, including regular, seal, and semi-cursive scripts, before devoting himself to cursive. His latest work embodies the core elements of cursive writing — point, line, and plane — while integrating brush, structure, and ink techniques.

Tong's body of work is known for its thoughtful composition and emotional depth, where each line becomes a reflection of the artist's inner world. This tribute to Lu stands as both a technical achievement and a deeply personal homage to one of China's greatest poets.