Chapter Nineteen: Wild Grass Writing

Tales of the Fat Monk

Send us a Text Message.

While setting up a Calligraphy and Arts exhibition at the Monastery, the Fat Monk and friends discuss the amazing Fu Qingzhu, heroic anti-Manchu rebel, iconoclastic calligrapher who single-handedly transformed the art of writing as an art form, and Chinese doctor famous for his work on Chinese herbal gynaecology.
The Abbot shows off a piece by Fu Qingzhu in what appear to be the secret Fu characters known only to Daoist priests, and relates a strange and tragic story about Fu Qingzhu and his son.
What comes as a surprise to all is the winner of the exhibition prize, which can be viewed by going to the link at the end of the transcript.
SHOW NOTES:
Xiaoyao Xingzhe, the self-styled carefree pilgrim, has lived and worked all over the world, having crossed the Gobi in a decrepit jeep, lived with a solitary monk in the mountains of Korea, dined with the family of the last emperor of China, and helped police with their enquiries in Amarillo, Texas.
FAN MAIL is. a new feature now available to leave feedback on episodes, love or hate them. Look for the button in the top ribbon when you click on “Episodes.”
Visit the Fat Monk Website: https://thefatmonk.net/
for pdfs of all recorded chapters and a few more, as well as other bits of interest on Daoism, Buddhism and Neidan, with an emphasis (but not a limitation) on pre-twentieth century authors such as Huang Yuanji and Li Daochun.
If you would like to support the production costs of this podcast, you may do so at Ko-fi.
Check out the wonderful Flora Carbo and her music:
https://floracarbo.com/