Curated Stillness

Regular Script with Semi-Cursive

Emperor Saga: Guang Ding Precepts Certificate

Emperor Saga ascended to the throne in the year of 809. The history of Japanese culture labelled his era as the Heian Period, in which cultural elements of Tang Dynasty started to flourish across Japan. The certificate (an official monastery seal) was presented by Emperor Saga to a disciple of Master Saicho, Guang Ding, upon his monkhood graduation. This certificate scroll cleverly integrated the ‘Kai Shu’ of Ouyang Xun and ‘Xing Shu’ of Master Kukai into one. This goes to show how the calligraphy styles of Ouyang Xun and Master Kukai influenced him deeply. Emperor Saga’s calligraphy demonstrates robust strokes in great deliberation.