# Four Poems: Calligraphy in Cursive Script (xingshu)

- By: Chen Jiru (Chinese, 1558–1639)
- Date: 1500s-1600s
- Medium: handscroll; ink on gold speckled paper
- Classification: Calligraphy
- Dimensions: Calligraphy section: 27 x 195 cm (10 5/8 x 76 3/4 in.)
- Culture: China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
- Credit line: Gift of Dr. Roger Y.K. and Mrs. Evangeline C. Hsu, Dr. Daphne T. Hsu, and Dr. Jeffrey T. Hsu in honor of Dr. Ju-hsi Chou
- Museum: [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://clevelandart.org/art/2004.65)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2004.65/2004.65_web.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Written in graceful calligraphy with well-composed characters, the artist communicates his thoughts and state of mind in four poems. Characters written in dark, thick strokes convey rhythm, and indicate the moment after the writer had paused to recharge his brush with ink. Chen Jiru was a native of Huating (modern Shanghai). His calligraphy style resembles that of his friend, influential calligrapher Dong Qichang (1555–1636). Unlike Dong, Chen did not pursue government service: he burned his Confucian robes, declined a summons to serve at court, and immersed himself in literature, calligraphy, and painting.