Viewing Moon

PU RU (1896-1963)
Viewing Moon
Fan leaf, mounted for framing, ink and colour on paper
18.5 x 51.5 cm. (7 ¹⁄₄ x 20 ¹⁄₄ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated fifth month, xinwei year (1931)

Wang Jingwei remains one of the most fascinating and complex political and literary figures in modern Chinese history. As a revolutionary, Wang played an important role in the fall of the Qing dynasty and called for democratic and social reforms during the 1920s and the 1930s, before becoming a leader of the Peace Movement during the Second Sino-Japanese War. An accomplished calligrapher, poet, writer and friend to many artists, Wang is also well-known for his collection of poetry, titled Shuangzhaolou shicigao, including Xiaoxiuji (A Little Rest) and Saoyeji (Brush Leaves) collections. A selection of poems and translation has been published in Poems of Wang Ching-wei (London, Allen & Unwin, 1938).