Chapter 369: A Titan of the Calligraphy World! The Best Cursive Script in the World! (2)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Luo Feng said, “The planks were laid down to protect the tiles during the burial process. Do you think the numerous carts and carriages that moved in and out would not damage the tiles otherwise?”
Astounded, the archaeologists surrounding Luo Feng had learned a new fact.
Did the ancients actually take measures to protect floor tiles?
That was truly impressive.
“Luo Feng, has the stone wall been excavated?” Soon, Gu Santong arrived at the scene. “Yes, it has, and there are also tombstones!” Luo Feng pointed at six slabs above.
They must have belonged to six women.
One of them bore the name of Tan Jin.
The women who were buried with him were all women of unusual status, and among them was even the daughter of a high-ranking minister.
“This eunuch was so influential that he was buried with the daughter of a high-ranking minister?”
“I, a wholesome man, have not even received such treatment!”
“He might be influential, but he cannot enjoy the pleasures of a man!”
“I may not be as wealthy as him, but I have already accomplished much!”
Luo Feng was not at all surprised, “This Liu Jin wielded considerable power, he was responsible for the downfall of many ministers. It is quite normal for those ministers to curry favor with him by offering their daughters in marriage!”
It had to be said.
For a eunuch to reach this level of power, it was quite unprecedented. However, if Luo Feng were given the opportunity to live such a life, would he take it?
Perhaps not.
He might have pretended to be a eunuch, but will do everything in his power to avoid being castrated.
For instance, if you had to choose to marry between a wealthy woman who would give you a million every month, and a young, attractive lady who you had to give ten thousand to every month, what option would you choose?
You would probably say you would choose to marry the wealthy woman, then keep the young lady as a mistress.
But a win-win scenario such as this is hard to come by in this world.
If you choose one, you would have to lose the other.
In Liu Jin’s case, he wielded power because he had the opportunity to serve the emperor in the palace.
Otherwise, to wield such power without being a eunuch, one would need to have a large clan as a backing, and gain merit through warfare or other means. One would need to pretend to be weak, otherwise, the emperor would be wary. Truth be told, the whole process was difficult.
But it was relatively easier for a eunuch to wield such power. The emperor knew that a eunuch could not usurp the throne, and hence he felt safe, but if he was not careful, he could be manipulated.
However, the damage caused by a eunuch wielding power was much less than that caused by a minister.
“Master Gu, Mr. Luo Feng, the ancient art appraisal expert, Mr. Zhang Shaowei, has sent for you!”
Suddenly, an archaeology team member called out.
“Zhang Shaowei?” Gu Santong nodded, “Understood. It seems they have started
to open the boxes containing the paintings and calligraphy. Shall we go and have a look, Luo Feng?”
“Sure!”
Since the tombstones had been revealed, the identity of Liu Jin’s tomb was naturally confirmed.
There was no need to stay here anymore.
Soon, everyone left.
“Little Wu, what paintings or calligraphy has Mr. Zhang discovered?”
Luo Feng knew that unless it was a valuable artifact, Little Wu would not be sent to notify them.
“Mr. Zhang believes the calligraphy might be a genuine piece by Wang Xizhi!” “Heh, could it actually be by Wang Xizhi?”
“Hehe, is it really Wang Xizhi?” Gu Santong was quite astounded. “He’s the Sage of Calligraphy! I didn’t expect Liu Jin to have collected Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy!”
“Well, not necessarily. It could have been Yuan Zai’s collection! It could have been taken from Yuan Zai’s tomb!” Luo Feng speculated.
“Oh my, Wang Xizhi’s original work?”
“This is incredible, I’d bow down to the ‘Founding Emperor’ for this!”
“Bow down, what nonsense. Didn’t you hear what the host said? It’s likely from Yuan Zai’s tomb!”
“It would have been difficult to get a hold of Wang Xizhi’s original work during the Ming Dynasty!”
“Hehe, do you know where the ‘Snowy River’ painting in the Forbidden City
Museum came from? It was discovered when Yan Song was looting!”
“Yan Song was that influential?”
“Indeed, he was a massive corrupt official!”
After these conversations, they had almost explored the entire tomb chamber.
However, they had not yet opened any of the calligraphy and paintings.
Because they could easily crumble.
Luo Feng had been waiting for the arrival of the professional equipment. “Mr. Luo, Master Gu, you’ve finally arrived!”
Upon entering the room where the paintings were stored, they were greeted by a short specialist.
Luo Feng presumed that he was Zhang Shaowei.
Donned with a black jacket, and a pair of reading glasses.
His hair was a mix of black and white.
“Old Zhang, is this really Wang Xizhi’s original work? Is there a signature?” Gu San Tong asked impatiently as soon as he arrived.
“Well, that’s hard to say. Although I’m an expert, I’m still far from the best. We need a calligraphy master to appraise it!” Zhang Shaowei said modestly, it was not that he was unable to appraise it, but if he was wrong about such a thing, it would be embarrassing. It was better to let someone else take responsibility instead.
After all, he could not be certain.
“Let me take a look!”
There’s a treasure trove here.
Why bring in a calligraphy master?
Ridiculous.
Luo Feng said as he walked over to the box had been protected.
The scroll was covered with a layer of glass.
Almost framed.
Looking at the writing on it, the full text consisted of five lines and thirty-six characters.
Because it was cursive, most people would not be able to understand nor appreciate it.
“What excellent handwriting!”
“What exquisite strokes!”
After looking at it, Luo Feng started praising the piece. “So, is this Wang Xizhi’s original work?” Gu Santong asked.
“It’s not!” said Luo Feng. “What? It’s not?”
Everyone seemed a bit stunned.
They had been excited all this while, and it had turned out to not be the case?
“The inscription should be Wang Xizhi’s!”
“Then why isn’t the handwriting Wang Xizhi’s?” Gu Santong asked Luo Feng.
“In ancient times, there were mainly two types of seals, the first one, as we all know, was for literati to stamp their works. The second type is the collection seal! If such a calligraphy or painting flowed into my hands, I would stamp it as a marker, indicating my evaluation and appreciation of this calligraphy!”
When it comes to collection seals.
There are certain standards.
Generally, it should not destroy the aesthetic of the calligraphy or painting.
But speaking of collection seals, you have to mention Qianlong, that old man liked to add seals to other people’s works.
Many famous works are covered with random stamps.
Some valuable works are blocked by the essence and directly depreciated.
However, some worthless paintings and calligraphies are appreciated because of Emperor Qianlong’s collection seals.
“I’ve checked it out, this should be a work by Wang Xizhi’s son, Wang Xianzhi, called the ‘Mid-Autumn Scroll”‘
Upon seeing this, Zhang Shaowei immediately widened his eyes, “Is this the second Wang?”
“Yes!” Luo Feng said, picking up the scroll, a system prompt appeared.
[ Ding! Scroll! Eastern Jin period! Worth 250 million! ]
It is an original piece, huh.
Seeing this price.
Luo Feng knew, if it was not an original, it would not be this expensive.
“If I remember correctly, Wang Xianzhi’s ‘Mid-Autumn Scroll’ should be in the collection of the Forbidden City Museum, right?” Luo Feng smiled, “That’s a copied version, not an original!” “Holy cow! After all this time, where’s Wang Xizhi’s original?” “Yes, the Sage of Calligraphy should be a bit more impressive, right?” “Wang Xianzhi isn’t bad at all, he is one of the ‘Two Wangs’ after all!” Gu Santong said, “So, is this Wang Xianzhi’s original work?”
“Of course, it’s authentic!” Luo Feng was very certain.
After saying this.
Everyone showed a relieved smile.
However, the next moment, a young man exclaimed, “Mr. Zhang, Master Gu,
Mr. Luo, there’s a big piece over here!”
“A big piece, are you referring to a painting?” Zhang Shaowei thought, for calligraphy and paintings, a big piece is usually pertained to paintings, not text.
He went over and looked in the box.
It was just a scroll.
The scroll was about thirty centimeters in length, but it was very thick.
The wrapping leather was half a meter or so thick.
Why was this painting so thick? Why is it half a meter thick?
And it was placed in a box alone, indicating the tomb owner reallv valued it! “We can’t lay it out on this table! Everyone, lend a hand! Bring more tables over,” Zhang Shaowei thought and then called out.
Soon.
Everyone brought more tables.
Using special tools.
The scroll was placed on the table.
They thought a few tables would suffice. But unexpectedly.
The painting stretched out to eight meters?
Such a grand piece.
Regardless of anything else, its volume alone was astonishing.
“The material itself is paper!”
“The script is written in ink!”
“This is a calligraphy piece, not a painting!”
Luo Feng was even more surprised. Such large paintings have appeared before.
But such large calligraphy?
That was unheard of.
“Whose work is this? It seems to be cursive script?” Zhang Shaowei murmured while looking.
“Hehe, Mr. Zhang, have you ever heard of the world’s best cursive calligraphy piece?” Luo Feng laughed, evidently knowing the identity of the painting..
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