Author Description

Shou Zha is the handwritten letter, which in antiquity was the means by which relatives and friends communicated. The Shou Zha collected here reflect many different styles of handwriting from the period as they were copied and added to the collection throughout the years between the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China. Originally written by 100 renown figures from the Qing Dynasty like Ji Xiao Lan, Liu yong, Zeng Guofan, Zhang Zhidong, and Li Hongzhang, these personal missives have rarely been seen and offer an incredible look into the personal lives of people during an influential period of Chinese dynastic history.