Chinese Buddhism flourished during the Song(宋) Dynasty, surpassing its prominence in the Tang(唐) Dynasty, which led to a rise in the number of monks. A notable calligrapher-monk of this era is Meng Ying(夢英). The primary sources about Meng Ying are poems dedicated to him by contemporary literati, found in The Complete Collection of Song Dynasty Poems(全宋詩), Stele of Eighteen Styles of Seal Script(十八體篆書碑), and Stele of Poems Dedicated to Meng Ying(贈夢英詩碑). This paper examines Meng Ying's life and calligraphy through 57 poems.
In these poems, two notable anecdotes are frequently mentioned: the emperor bestowing a purple robe on Meng Ying and his drinking habits. The purple robe anecdote symbolizing the emperor's recognition of Meng Ying's calligraphy achievements and reinforcing his authority. Meng Ying's drinking anecdotes highlight his unconventional character and close relationships with scholars, transcending typical monastic boundaries. These poems fall into two main thematic areas. The first is Praise of Seal Script(篆書). Meng Ying was renowned for his Seal Script, which is prominently emphasized in the poetry. Of the 57 poems, 36 mention Seal Script, placing Meng Ying alongside Li Si(李斯) and Li Yangbing(李陽氷), thus attributing tradition and authority to his work. The second area is the Correlation between Buddhism and Calligraphy. The poems also explore the relationship between Chan(禪) principles and calligraphy, highlighting how calligraphy merges with Chan's aesthetic principles and the shared discipline required for mastering both.
In conclusion, comparing Meng Ying with Huai Su(懷素), who shares many similarities. However, while records about Meng Ying have largely disappeared, Huai Su's legacy continued with the Song of Running Script(草書歌) from the Song and Yuan(元) Dynasties to the Qing(清) Dynasty.
동북아시아문화학회 [The Association of North-east Asian Cultures]
설립연도
2000
분야
복합학>학제간연구
소개
동북아시아 문화의 다양성과 정체성을 연구 토론하고, 지역내 문화 교류의 다양한 모습을 연구하고 문화변동의 큰 틀을 집적함으로써 우리 민족 문화 및 상대 민족의 문화적 터전을 이해하여 문화공동체적 특성을 계발하고 상호 관련성의 강화를 유도하는 학술활동을 통해 동북아시아의 문화발전에 이바지함.