Chinese Calligraphy Scroll — If Heaven Had Feelings, Verse from Mao Zedong

Scroll

-

The Curio Cabinet Collection

Name/Title

Chinese Calligraphy Scroll — If Heaven Had Feelings, Verse from Mao Zedong

Entry/Object ID

WH0108

Description

Monumental Chinese calligraphy hanging scroll featuring the couplet “If heaven possessed feelings, heaven too would grow old; the rightful course of the human world is one of profound change,” from Mao Zedong's 1949 poem on the capture of Nanjing. Drawing on an earlier poetic image by the Tang poet Li He, the verse reflects on historical transformation and the passage of time. Fourteen large, expressive black characters are arranged in a single vertical column, accompanied by subsidiary calligraphy and a red seal. The restrained cream-colored mounting complements the bold composition. A probable companion to WH0107, containing the preceding couplet from the same poem.

Artwork Details

Medium

Paper-to-Cloth

Subject

Philosophical and political couplet addressing historical change, drawn from Mao Zedong's poem on the capture of Nanjing

Category

Chinese Painted Art

Made/Created

Artist

Maker presently unidentified

Time Period

20th Century

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Continent

Asia

Culture/Tribe

Chinese

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Principal inscription: 天若有情天亦老，人間正道是滄桑 (Tiān ruò yǒu qíng tiān yì lǎo, rénjiān zhèngdào shì cāngsāng), “If heaven possessed feelings, heaven too would grow old; the rightful course of the human world is one of profound change.” Secondary inscription: Appears to reference 毛澤東詩句 (Máo Zédōng shījù), “lines of poetry by Mao Zedong,” or a closely related wording; partially legible. A two-character calligraphic signature follows, possibly a personal name or art name, but remains unidentified. One square red seal with seal-script characters, currently unread.

Dimensions

Width

17-15/16 in

Length

128 in

Condition

Overall Condition

Very Good

Acquisition

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Relationships

Related Entries

Entry

Chinese Calligraphy Hanging Scroll — Mao Zedong's Pursue the Retreating Enemy Couplet