羅秀惠/菜根味淡草書四條屏
1856-1942
Luo Xiuhui/ Four Hanging Scrolls in Cursive Script
183 X 38cm(4) 館藏2014-1-0116
【釋文】
菜根味淡復何求,生平未解趨炎苦。
樵不人氣自折,生來眼界歲分寬。
雅麥輕羅日添香,灼灼芙渠佩作裳。
自有藕絲冰在底,須荷淨納清凉。
飲啄由來夙口,絕塵一騎卸輕裝。
消渴頻教碧荔,嘗剝石榴參玉版。
天然色味自然香,清池紅綺紈。
願得仁風時奉扇,炎威不受此平安。
【款識】
瘦痕大兄詞壇雅正,羅蔚邨錄近作。
【鈴印】
羅秀惠印。字蔚邨號口口聰非四。
【說明】
羅秀惠,字蔚村,號蕉麓,清代臺南舉人。乙未(1895)割臺後,曾任臺南師範學校教務囑託,並北上擔任《臺灣日日新報》漢文部記者。先後參與過臺南南社、臺北瀛社、更曾於臺北總督府博物館(今國立臺灣博物館)、江山樓及臺中、嘉義等地舉辦書法個展。
此件草書作品,用筆靈巧,行氣流暢。受書者為陳渭川(1879-1912),瘦痕為其别字,他曾擔任過《臺南新報》漢文記者,與星秀惠同為南社社友·明治38年(1905),陳潤川前往业业玩欲南返時,羅秀惠與北部日臺文人館森鴻(1863-1942)、山本竟山(1863-1934)、尾崎秀真(1874-1949)、安江五溪、黃植亭等人,為其餞行於艋舺平樂遊旗亭。羅秀惠、謝汝銓、黃植亭還與陳渭川在《臺灣日日新報》上以詩相贈,依依離情躍然纸上。此件作品未有纪年,不知是否寫於同年,但無疑是報刊詩作之外,又一見證兩者文誼的作品。
Luo Xiuhui / Four Hanging Scrolls in Cursive Script
1856–1942
183 x 38 cm (each) Collection No. 2014-1-0116
Text: The flavor of vegetable roots is mild—what else is there to seek?
Throughout life, I have never learned to endure the bitterness of ingratiation.
The woodcutter’s axe avoids the bustling crowds, and his perspective naturally widens with the years.
Elegant wheat and fine silk grow more fragrant each day,
Blossoming lotus flowers become garments adorning the body.
Within the lotus stems, ice-like clarity resides, bringing cooling purity.
Drinking and eating follow natural rhythms,
Riding alone, unburdened by worldly dust.
To quench thirst, I turn to jade-like lychees and peel garnet-red pomegranates.
Nature’s hues and flavors are inherently exquisite,
A crimson brocade adorning the pond.
If only I could offer a gentle breeze of righteousness,
Shielded from scorching heat, peace would prevail.
Inscription:
Respectfully submitted to Brother Shouhen for literary correction. Written by Luo Weicun.
Seal:
Seal of Luo Xiuhui. Courtesy name: Weicun. Alternate name: unknown.
Description:
Luo Xiuhui, courtesy name Weicun, sobriquet Jiaolu, was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Qing Dynasty and a native of Tainan. After Taiwan was ceded in 1895, he served as an educational advisor at Tainan Normal School and later worked as a journalist for the Chinese-language division of the Taiwan Daily News. Luo actively participated in literary societies such as the Southern Society in Tainan and the Ying Society in Taipei. He also held solo calligraphy exhibitions in locations such as the Governor-General Museum (now the National Taiwan Museum), Jiangshan Tower, Taichung, and Chiayi.
This cursive script work showcases Luo's skillful brushstrokes and flowing composition. The recipient of the piece, Chen Weichuan (1879–1912), also known by the sobriquet Shouhen, worked as a journalist for the Tainan News and was a fellow member of the Southern Society. In 1905, during Chen’s journey north to settle affairs before returning to Tainan, Luo joined other literary and cultural figures, including Mori Hiroshi (1863–1942), Yamamoto Kyosan (1863–1934), and Huang Zhiting, at a farewell gathering in Monga. At this event, Luo, along with Xie Ruquan and Huang Zhiting, exchanged farewell poems with Chen, which were later published in Taiwan Daily News. Although this piece is undated, it likely complements the poems, providing further testament to their enduring friendship.
