In the deep of night, all was silent.
Tang Song fell into a long dream suffused with the fragrance of ink.
In the dream, he found himself in an ancient study of an unknown era.
Outside the window, the rain beat against the banana leaves, inside the shadow of the candlelight flickered red.
Before him, on a grand huanghuali wood desk, lay fine Chengxin Tang paper.
In an antique inkstone, the ink was ground to a deep and glossy black.
In his hand, he held a writing brush.
Practicing over and over the most basic "Eight Principles of Yong" —
Dot, horizontal, vertical, hook, lift, sweep, press.
Time in the dream seemed to stretch infinitely.
Seasons changed — spring, summer, autumn, winter, who knows how many times over.
Outside the window, the banana leaves turned green then yellow, yellow then green.
He copied countless famous calligraphy works.
From Wang Xizhi's "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion," with its fluidity and elegance;
