Letter by Li Zhi dated 1702 Bada Shanren (Zhu Da) Chinese In 1693 Zhu Da began studying works from the Chunhuage tie, a collection of rubbings of early calligraphies compiled in 992. This fan transcribes on piece from that collection, a letter from Li Zhi, who later became the emperor Tang Gaozong (r. 650-83). Zhu Da's writing freely departs from Li Zhi's original: done with plump "centered-tip" brushstrokes, Zhu's characters possess a simple, unaffected archaic flavor that is unmistakably his own.Zhu Da's transcription of Li Zhi's letter reads: Uncle, you possess a great many artistic talents and you are an outstanding, compassionate teacher. Your son Ai has thus received an exemplary education and he is receptive and diligent, especially in calligraphy. When I heard that he had lately become particularly fond of the "Flying white" technique, I playfully took up my brush to amuse him. What I wrote is far from the graceful forms of the Six Calligraphic Modes and remiss in elegant dicti