Preface to Emperor Huizong's Collected Works: A Masterpiece of Imperial Calligraphy

Among the countless treasures preserved in Japan, few possess the extraordinary historical significance of the Preface to Emperor Huizong's Collected Works (宋高宗書徽宗文集序, Sō Kōsō Sho Kisō Bunshū Jo). This remarkable handscroll, designated as a National Treasure of Japan, is a rare surviving example of imperial calligraphy penned by Emperor Gaozong (高宗, 1107–1187), the founder of China's Southern Song dynasty. Written in 1154, the scroll represents not only a sublime work of calligraphic art but also a profoundly personal tribute from a son to his father — Emperor Huizong, the last ruler of the Northern Song dynasty.

Historical Background: A Dynasty Torn Apart

To fully appreciate this National Treasure, one must understand the dramatic historical context from which it emerged. Emperor Huizong (徽宗, 1082–1135) was the eighth emperor of the Northern Song dynasty and one of China's most artistically gifted rulers. He was a masterful calligrapher who invented the distinctive "Slender Gold" (瘦金体) script style, and his painting Peach Blossoms and Doves (桃鳩図) is itself designated a National Treasure of Japan. However, his devotion to art and culture came at the cost of effective governance.

In 1127, the catastrophic Jingkang Incident (靖康の変) saw Jurchen Jin dynasty forces capture the Northern Song capital of Kaifeng. Emperor Huizong, his successor Emperor Qinzong, and much of the imperial family were taken captive and forced northward. Huizong would spend his remaining years in captivity, dying in 1135 without ever returning home.

Zhao Gou (趙構), Huizong's ninth son, was one of the few princes who escaped capture. Fleeing south, he established a new court and proclaimed himself Emperor Gaozong, founding the Southern Song dynasty with its capital at Lin'an (present-day Hangzhou). Despite enormous political challenges — including questions about his legitimacy and the constant military threat from the Jin — Gaozong pursued a strategy of diplomatic negotiation rather than warfare, enabling a period of relative peace and cultural flourishing.

The Scroll: Content and Composition

In the 24th year of the Shaoxing era (紹興24年, 1154), when Gaozong was 47 years old, he composed this preface for a hundred-volume collection of his father Huizong's literary works. The preface, or "序" (jo), functions as a foreword in which the emperor honors his father's literary achievements and poetic talent, reflecting on the cultural legacy of a ruler whose artistic brilliance was overshadowed by political catastrophe.

The scroll opens with Gaozong's own calligraphy of the preface. Unfortunately, the beginning of the original text has been lost over the centuries, and only 32 lines of Gaozong's writing survive today. Despite this partial loss, the remaining text is preserved in remarkably fine condition, showcasing the refined elegance of Gaozong's brushwork.

Following the preface, the scroll contains colophons (跋, batsu) — afterwords penned by distinguished scholars and literati across several centuries. Notable contributors include Hu Sanxing (胡三省), the celebrated Southern Song–Yuan dynasty historian renowned for his monumental annotations on the Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government, and Wen Zhengming (文徴明, 1470–1559), one of the most accomplished calligraphers and painters of the Ming dynasty. Wen Zhengming's colophon offers a poignant reflection on the impermanence of even imperial literary collections.

Why This Work Is a National Treasure

The Preface to Emperor Huizong's Collected Works was designated a National Treasure of Japan on November 14, 1953. Several factors contribute to its extraordinary cultural significance:

• Extreme rarity of imperial autographs: Authentic calligraphy by Chinese emperors surviving from the Song dynasty is exceptionally rare. This scroll is considered the only verified example of Emperor Gaozong's own handwriting preserved in Japan, making it an irreplaceable document of Chinese imperial culture.
• Calligraphic excellence: Emperor Gaozong was one of the most accomplished calligraphers among Chinese emperors. Deeply influenced by the ancient masters Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi of the Jin dynasty, as well as Song-era calligraphers Huang Tingjian and Mi Fu, Gaozong's style is marked by refined elegance, graceful brush movement, and a balance of strength and beauty. This scroll exemplifies the mature phase of his calligraphic achievement.
• Historical and emotional depth: Beyond its artistic merit, the scroll is a poignant historical document — a son's tribute to a father lost to the upheavals of war and dynastic collapse. It offers an intimate glimpse into the human dimensions of one of Chinese history's most dramatic periods.
• Distinguished provenance: The succession of colophons by celebrated scholars across multiple dynasties attests to the scroll's continuous appreciation by connoisseurs over nearly nine centuries.

Artistic Highlights and What to Look For

When viewing this National Treasure, visitors should pay attention to several distinctive features. Gaozong's calligraphy displays the influence of the "Two Wangs" (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi), with fluid, elegant brushstrokes that move seamlessly between regular and running script styles. The characters demonstrate a remarkable sense of rhythm and balance, with each stroke conveying both discipline and spontaneity.

The paper and ink have been preserved in excellent condition, allowing viewers to appreciate the subtleties of brush pressure, ink saturation, and the natural flow of the emperor's hand across the page. The colophons that follow provide an educational journey through Chinese calligraphic traditions, as each contributor writes in their own characteristic style, offering viewers the opportunity to compare different approaches to the art of the brush across several centuries.

Also notable is the imperial seal "臣構" (Shin Kō), which represents Gaozong's personal name Gou (構), confirming the emperor's authorship of the preface.

Visiting Information

This National Treasure is owned by the Japanese government (Agency for Cultural Affairs) and is deposited at one of the national museums. It has been exhibited at the Kyoto National Museum (京都国立博物館) on several occasions, including during the landmark 2017 "National Treasures" exhibition and the 2023 "Masterpieces of Chinese and Japanese Calligraphy" special exhibition.

As a fragile work on paper, the scroll is not on permanent display. It is shown periodically, typically once every few years, during special exhibitions or themed displays related to Chinese calligraphy, Song dynasty art, or imperial treasures. Visitors planning to see this work are advised to check the exhibition schedules of the Kyoto National Museum and the Tokyo National Museum in advance.

The Kyoto National Museum is located in the Higashiyama district of Kyoto, within walking distance of Sanjūsangen-dō Temple and the Kyoto National Museum Garden. The museum's Heisei Chishinkan (平成知新館), designed by architect Taniguchi Yoshio, provides a world-class setting for viewing delicate works of calligraphy and painting.

Nearby Attractions

Visitors to the Kyoto National Museum can easily explore some of Kyoto's finest cultural sites in the surrounding area. Sanjūsangen-dō (三十三間堂), famous for its 1,001 statues of the Thousand-Armed Kannon, is just a short walk away. Tōfuku-ji Temple (東福寺), one of Kyoto's five great Zen temples, offers spectacular autumn foliage and a magnificent Zen garden. The nearby Chishaku-in Temple (智積院) houses a collection of stunning painted sliding doors designated as National Treasures.

For those with a deeper interest in Chinese and Japanese calligraphy, the Kyoto National Museum's permanent collection features numerous other works of calligraphy and related art. The nearby city of Nara, reachable in about 45 minutes by train, houses additional Song dynasty art treasures in its national museum.