• Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368 - 1644)

Composed by renowned Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi, this poem was written on silk by Ming Dynasty calligrapher Wen Zhengming; he was a specialist in all forms of calligraphy, but this form displays his consummate skill. Two of his seals can be seen at the bottom of the calligraphy.

The poem reads:

大絃嘈嘈如急雨 : The bold strings rattled like splatters of sudden rain,

小絃切切如私語 : The fine strings hummed like lovers' whispers.

嘈嘈切切錯雜彈 : Chattering and pattering, pattering and chattering,

大珠小珠落玉盤 : As pearls, large and small, on a jade plate fall.