Calligraphy exhibition marks poet's 980th birthday

Calligraphy and books on Su Xun, Su Shi and Su Zhe's poems and prose. [Photo/artron.net]

An exhibition featuring 40 calligraphic works from China, the US and Belgium was held in Taipei on Tuesday.

The exhibit was designed to honor Su Dongpo, also known as Su Shi, a Song Dynasty (960-1279) poet who was born in Sichuan province on 1037.

Su's poems were highly praised for their literary merit and influence on later poets. His father, Su Xun, and younger brother, Su Zhe, were also noted as litterateurs who were good at writing prose and poems. The trio was known as the "Three Su" and was listed in the "Eight Great Talents in Tang and Song Dynasties".

According to Chinese folk stories, a Chinese dish, braised Dongpo pork, was created by Su and named after him as well.

Another calligraphy and painting exhibition in honor of the poet was further held in Hainan province, where Su once stayed.