ZHENG SHIXUAN (1901 – 1982).

Wang Xizhi Catching a Goose.

Ink and colour on paper, signed Mu Kang, Chinese album leaf, 30 x 31cm.

鄭師玄 羲之籠鵝

款識：羲之籠鵝。慕康畫

鑒藏印：「慕康」「書帶草堂」

There are various stories linking the legendary calligrapher, Wang Xizhi (303 – 361), to geese. On one whilst walking along he saw a priest herding geese, who during an idle moment was copying out the Huang Ting Sutra. Wang admired the geese and lent him a hand with his writing. In exchange he was given a big white goose. Since then the Huang Ting Sutra has been colloquially known as the ‘Inscription for Geese’.