PU Tzu often drew inspiration from ancient poetry that resonated with his state of mind. This work is adapted from Retreat in Seclusion by the Tang dynasty poet Yuan Zhen. The verse, “A rustic cherishes his secluded dwelling,” may be seen as a reflection of PU Tzu’s own hermit-literati lifestyle. It corresponds to the recluse culture of the late Ming dynasty, shaped by refined literati who hovered between worldly ambition and reclusion. They valued spiritual freedom and found delight in self-realization through poetry, calligraphy, painting, and gatherings.
With regard to PU Tzu’s life, experiences, and social networks, PU Tzu is considered as a contemporary hermit-literati, whose spirit often is reflected in his works, giving him a unique presence in modern calligraphy and painting. PU Tzu frequently altered words or phrases from the original verse, transforming his calligraphy into a personal dialogue with the past. In this work, he replaced the word “pine” in Yuan Zhen’s verse with the name of his studio, Lao Mang (Old Mango Tree). During his later years in Tainan, PU Tzu lived in this studio, where he wrote poetry, practiced calligraphy, read, and meditated, leading a life of simplicity and introspection. It was a period of quiet consolidation and latent vigor, before transitioning to his sweeping wild cursive works that would take the contemporary calligraphy world by storm.
At first glance, the piece surges with thunderous momentum, much like his classical wild cursive works. Yet on closer study, one discovers a composition that is comparatively ordered and restrained. This was a deliberate choice, allowing the work to echo the tranquility of the poem. Such balance lends the wild cursive script a quiet undertone. Toward the end, the spaces gradually open up, evoking the atmosphere of clouds dispersing under a bright moon, where the clarity of night and the lucidity of mind converge on paper. In this work, PU Tzu transformed Yuan Zhen’s gentle verse into a lively and romantic self-fashioned poem, creating a classic example of how contemporary calligraphy both inherits and transcends tradition.