Mark's Brush Calligraphy Portfolio

Calming the Waters

by Su Shi

I copied this poem by Su Shi for my high school friend as a graduation gift.

English Translation:
Heed not the rain beating against the leaves,
Why not whistle and sing as you stroll along.
Straw sandals and a bamboo staff are better than horseback,
Who's afraid?
A raincoat is all I need in life's journey.
A cool spring breeze sobers up the spirit,
A light chill,
Yet the setting sun over the mountains is welcoming.
Looking back over this rainy path,
To return?
I heed not rain nor shine.

As we approached high school graduation, my friend would go to California to attend USC in the fall of 2022, and I would stay in MA. We had spent four years in high school together. At that point of separation, we knew it was going to be a sad one. College was a brand new challenge for both of us, and the road ahead seemed shrouded in uncertainty. Therefore, I had decided to write him an encouraging poem, to uplift our spirits and morale. Su Shi's 'Calming the Waters' was more than appropriate: no matter how frustrated you might have been, we should always look forward. The most critical thing in overcoming challenges is maintaining an optimistic mindset. The two rightmost lines (columns in modern-day terms) are the signature of this work, which should be smaller than the body text. The first line (the left one) reads, 'My friend, Hao Yang, please carefully preserve this work,' and the second line (the right one) states, 'Zhuoyang Zhang wrote this in the year of the Yang Water Tiger (2022).

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Bring in the Wine

by li bai

English translation:

Do you not see
The waters of the Yellow River come pouring from the sky,
Rushing towards the sea and never coming back?
Do you not see
Our elders' grievance over grey hair when they a mirror look into,
That was once ebony, now white as snow in their twilight years?
We should fully enjoy ourselves when we feel pleased,
Let not golden chalices mirror the moon without spirits.
There has to be a way and a purpose for a being like me,
The riches I’ve spent shall one day be reacquired.
Butcher and cook lamb and beef for a happy feast,
Whenever there is an opportunity, have three hundred sips of liquor at least.
Master Cen, Danqiu, my friend,
Please drink up, let not your chalice lay neglected.
Let me sing you a song,
Please lend an ear and listen as I sing:
A grand banquet with an orchestra is not as precious as it seems,
How I wish for intoxication and how I wish from which I never wake.
Throughout time sages and men of virtue have only the company of solitude,
Only those who drink leave behind a reputation next to their name.
Duke Chen of Wei gave a banquet at the Temple of Joy and Peace,
Providing pecks of wine at ten thousand pence each for all to indulge freely.
Being a host why would I excuse myself claiming lack of means?
I’d readily buy however much required to drink to our hearts’ content.
A steed with vivid shades of hair, a fur coat worthy of a thousand gold pieces,
In exchange for more great wine. I’ll have my son pawn these,
To share with you in smoothing away our millennia of sorrow, gloom and grief.

This poem vividly reflects the unbridled nature of Li Bai's character: he is full of self-confidence, proud, and passionately bold. This is why I chose a cursive font for this work, as it conveys the creators' moods through the tip of the pen, with their swaying strokes evoking a sense of romance and freedom. My favorite line is:

'We should fully enjoy ourselves when we feel pleased,
Let not golden chalices mirror the moon without spirits.
There has to be a way and a purpose for a being like me,
The riches I’ve spent shall one day be reacquired.'

I'm concerned that the beauty of the original language might be lost in translation. What Li Bai sought to convey is not squandering money is fine but rather an optimism that is detached from secular values and a resilient, confident mindset, both of which I'm still on my way practicing.

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Chuang Tzu-The Old Fisherman (Excerpt)

English translation: With utmost sincerity, even metal and stone will yield.
- No difficulty is insurmountable if one sets his/her mind on it.
It's one of the mottos good to keep in mind.

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On the Terrace of Spirits II of II (Excerpt)

by Zhang Hu

English Translation:
In fear of cosmetics' hues besmirching her grace, she lightly sweeps her silken brows in the Emperor's presence.

I personally found this poem interesting because I misinterpreted it first time I read it. The full poem is:

With grace bestowed, the Lady of Guo, in the gentle dawn, rode her steed through palace doors.
In fear of cosmetics' hues besmirching her grace, she lightly sweeps her silken brows in the Emperor's presence.

Just as Kathy interprets the song 'Never Let Me Go' in her unique way the first time she listens to it, I initially thought it was a poem praising her natural beauty. However, Zhang Hu wrote this poem with a tone of sarcasm and criticism. The Lady of Guo, confident in the attractivenes of her natural appearance, doesn‘t use cosmetics in the presence of the emperor. In the heavily patriarchal Confucian society, such a thing suggests disrespect for the emperor, revealing her coquettish nature. Furthermore, Zhang Hu's intention was to emphasize how terrible was the Emperor Xuanzong, as he favored a woman with little regard for etiquette as his favorite concubine.
At first I genuinely admired the Lady of Guo's courage and confidence to the extent that even after realizing the real meaning of the poem, I still preferred to interpret it in my positive way because I simply found she's super cool, haha. Maybe it's the wrong interpretation of the poem, but right in general. While suggestions from others are valuable, it's also important to ignore trivial criticisms

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Shen Garden. Part 1

by lu you

English translation:

Atop the city walls, the sun's waning glow paints a somber tale,
Shen Garden, no more its former self, where ancient ponds and pavilions once prevailed.
Beneath the bridge, emerald spring waters serenely flow,
Where once a startled swan's reflection graced the scene, ages ago.

Lu You's lover, Tang Wan, was one of the most well-known and educated women in Chinese history. Unfortunately, their touching love story had a tragic ending due to the dissension between their families. Lu You, suffered from the solicitous wish of reunion, created a collection of well-written poems. This was one of them. Shen Garden used to be their secret rendezvous venue. The swan in the last sentence refers to Tang Wan.

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Fallen City lyrics

by mavis hee

This is an write-for-fun one because it's not a classic poem or what. It's just the lyrics of my favourite song :D I wrote it in cursive font and I bet you can easily tell it's very cursive.

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Crossing the Han River

by Zhiwen Song

English translation:

Beyong the ridges, news has ceased, through winter into spring it endures.
As I draw near my homeland, my heart grows even more unsure.
I dare not inquire of those who arrive, for fear of what they bring,
In this season of yearning, I remain silent, a timid swallow on the wing.

I feel a deep connection with this poem because it vividly depicts the yearning for a return home. However, once you are back in your hometown, all the changes in the town, in your family, and among your friends can be quite intimidating. You may find yourself too hesitant to ask people about their news, as it can be challenging to digest the dramatic changes for the time being. I used to be separated from my family, so I can empathize with this sentiment quite well. Thankfully, I now have my mom with me.

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Two Idioms

English translation:

Willow and poplar trees in luxuriant splendor cast deep, profound shadows,
while swans and geese etch indelible claw marks upon the snowy canvas.

Both of these idioms are metaphors for the idea that one's past experiences have left an indelible influence on one's present.

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Enjoyment in Untroubled Ease (excerpt)

by Chuang Tzu

English translation:

As for the accumulation of water, if it is not deep, it lacks the strength to support a large boat. Pour water into a small hollow, and it can serve as a boat for mustard plants; put a cup there, and it will stick to it. If the water is shallow and the boat is large, it will not work.

This excerpt is a metaphor. Water needs to be deep to support a boat. To accomplish things, people must set their hearts on gradually accumulating experience and knowledge, step by step enhancing themselves, tempering a patient and open mind. Success can be achieved by learning to endure and persevere.

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On the Terrace of Spirits II of II (Excerpt)

by Zhang Hu

English Translation:
In fear of cosmetics' hues besmirching her grace, she lightly sweeps her silken brows in the Emperor's presence.

I personally found this poem interesting because I misinterpreted it first time I read it. The full poem is:

With grace bestowed, the Lady of Guo, in the gentle dawn, rode her steed through palace doors.
In fear of cosmetics' hues besmirching her grace, she lightly sweeps her silken brows in the Emperor's presence.

Just as Kathy interprets the song 'Never Let Me Go' in her unique way the first time she listens to it, I initially thought it was a poem praising her natural beauty. However, Zhang Hu wrote this poem with a tone of sarcasm and criticism. The Lady of Guo, confident in the attractivenes of her natural appearance, doesn‘t use cosmetics in the presence of the emperor. In the heavily patriarchal Confucian society, such a thing suggests disrespect for the emperor, revealing her coquettish nature. Furthermore, Zhang Hu's intention was to emphasize how terrible was the Emperor Xuanzong, as he favored a woman with little regard for etiquette as his favorite concubine.
At first I genuinely admired the Lady of Guo's courage and confidence to the extent that even after realizing the real meaning of the poem, I still preferred to interpret it in my positive way because I simply found she's super cool, haha. Maybe it's the wrong interpretation of the poem, but right in general. While suggestions from others are valuable, it's also important to ignore trivial criticisms

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Locked Safe

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