石渠寶笈續編(養心殿),第二冊,頁1097 &故宮書畫錄(第三卷),第一冊,頁141 &故宮歷代法書全集,第十一冊,頁4-37、186-193&蔡襄,字君謨,興化仙游(今福建仙游)人。天聖八年(1030),十九歲中進士,曾做過開封知府、福州、泉州、杭州等地的知州。書法學虞世南、顏真卿,並取法晉人,與蘇軾、黃庭堅、米芾並列為「北宋四家」,譽滿書苑,蘇軾稱他「天資既高,積學深至,心手相應,變態無窮,遂為本朝第一。」此帖又名「離都帖」。至和二年(1055)六月,蔡襄出知泉州,離汴京經商丘(南京),長子勻感傷寒去世,友人杜衍來信慰問,襄作此書答謝。書法豐腴厚重似顏真卿,兼有王羲之行草之俊秀。本幅選自「宋四家墨寶」冊。&Ts'ai Hsiang (style name Chün-mo)was a native of Hsien-yu, Fukien. In 1030, at the age of 18, he received the chin-shih service degree, and he went on to serve as prefect of such places as Fu-chou, Ch'uan-chou, Hang-chou and the capital district of K'ai-feng. In calligraphy, he studied the styles of Yü Shih-nan(558-638)and Yen Chen-ch'ing(709-785)while learning from those of even earlier chin masters. Su Shih(1036-1101)praised Ts'ai Hsiang as "Gifted by nature, his studied deep and far-reaching. His heart and hand move in harmony to produce a myriad forms unparalleled in our dynasty." This work, also known as Letter on Leaving the Capital, was written while Ts'ai was traveling to south. In the sixth lunar month of 1055, Ts'ai Hsiang was assigned as prefect of Ch'uan-chou. He left the capital and was passing through Shang'ch'iu(Nanking) when he received word that his eldest son passed away from typhoid. His friend Tu Yen sent condolences, and Ts'ai expressed his gratitude in this return letter. The calligraphy in this letter is plump and heavy in places, much like the style of Yen Chen-ch'ing combined with the handsome elegance of the running script of Wang Hsi-chih(ca. 307-ca. 365). This work is from Ink Treasures of the Four Sung Masters.&蔡襄,字君謨,興化仙游(今福建仙游)人。襄書初學周越,後出入顏真卿、虞世南、王羲之,而能自闢蹊徑。行書第一,小楷第二,草書第三。他擅長真行草隸各體,尤以行、楷著稱,更有善寫豐碑巨額的絕招,譽滿書苑,時與蘇、黃、米並列“宋四家”。蔡天資高穎,書法入二王,行書最佳,系超法尚意書風的第一人。 蔡襄傳世書跡為楷、行兩體,楷體蹈唐人規矩,無甚超越,行書則個性突出,別樹一幟。此帖可窺堂奧。從現存留下的蔡襄墨跡看,以筆札最優。其中行楷受到顏體影響較深,嚴謹厚重不及,但瀟灑蘊藉可上追晉人。行草書明顯地受「二王」影響,值得珍視的是吸收、消化了顏體筆意。蔡襄書法中的天趣,只有簡札中保留最多,在日常的問答、往還中無意工書而趣味盎然。全幅22行112字,系蔡襄即將渡長江“南歸”途中所書。此帖追述離都(開封)行至南京(今商丘)而痛失長子等事。至和二年(1055)六月,蔡襄出知泉州,離汴京經商丘(南京),長子勻感傷寒去世,友人杜衍來信慰問,蔡作此書答謝。信中所謂“南歸”指回老家做官。蔡襄宦跡中曾兩度出守福州,首次在慶曆四年(1044),他33歲,第二次在至和三年(1056),四五歲。據歐陽修《瑞明殿學士蔡公墓誌銘》記載,襄有三子:「曰勻,將作監主簿;曰旬,大理評事,皆先公卒。幼子巹也。」蔡勻既有官職,顯然已經是成人,所以可以推斷此書必定作於後一次的「南歸」。蔡返鄉為官本是榮幸之事,卻逢中年喪子之哀事,矛盾複雜心情交雜一時,故此帖平靜中含雜亂,躊躇中見傷痛。書信雖在哀傷慘淡的情緒中寫就,猶不失遒麗之致,可見蔡襄襟懷與顏真卿告伯祭姪時的激烈有大異。這似乎可詮釋蘇軾評蔡襄「真(學顏)不如行(學虞)」的原因。顏真卿之《祭姪文稿》書於心情極其摧裂之時,但行筆恍惚、錯雜;蔡襄之離都帖則書於悲喜交加之時,故行筆沖融有致,但內含哀韻。書尚宣情,意情不同,自然行筆有異,這或許不失真不如行的問題,其實蔡襄是學顏、二王的高手,與虞世南關係不大。此帖書法豐腴厚重處似顏真卿,兼有王羲之行草之俊秀。