"The Shangyangtai Postscript", Tang dynasty, Li Bai's work, paper, 28.5cm in height, 38.1cm in width. Cursive script, 5 lines, a total of 25 words.

    "The Shangyangtai Postscript" is a four-character poem written by Li Bai. The text reads:"Mountain high, water long, myriad objects and images, without old brush, clear and strong to the end. Eighteenth day, written at Shangyangtai, Li Bai."

     The preface includes a title in regular script by Emperor Qianlong (Hongli) of the Qing Dynasty, which reads "Qinglian Yihan" (Elegant Writing of the Green Lotus). On the upper right corner of the main text, Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) of the Song Dynasty inscribed the title in slender gold script, which reads "Tang Li Taibai Shangyangtai" (Li Bai's Shangyangtai Postscript).

    The scroll bears seals on its front, back, and interleaf from various collectors and connoisseurs, including Zhao Mengjian's seals "Ziguo" and "Yizhai," Jia Sidao's seal "Qiuhetushu," Yuan dynasty seals "Zhangyan Siyin" and "Ouyang Xuan Yin," Ming dynasty collector Xiang Yuanbian, Qing dynasty collectors Liang Qingbiao and An Qi, the Qing imperial collection, and modern collector Zhang Boju. 

    The back of the scroll also includes colophons and inscriptions by Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) of the Song Dynasty, Yuan dynasty scholars Zhang Yan, Du Ben, Ouyang Xuan, Wang Yueling, Wei Su, and Zou Lu, as well as by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty.
    This is the only surviving calligraphic work attributed to Li Bai. His brushwork is spontaneous and unrestrained, with the final strokes left open and bold. Huang Tingjian of the Song dynasty commented on Li Bai's calligraphy: "Upon viewing his draft script, it greatly resembles his poetry, evoking feelings of distance and grandeur. Li Bai, during the Kaiyuan and Zhide periods, was not known for his calligraphy, yet his running and cursive scripts are no less impressive than those of the ancients." (From "Shanguo Tiba")

   This scroll was once part of the imperial collection during the Xuanhe period. It later belonged to Jia Sidao, and in the Yuan dynasty, it was in the possession of Zhang Yan. During the Ming dynasty, it was kept in the Tianlai Pavilion by Xiang Yuanbian. In the Qing dynasty, it was first owned by An Qi and then entered the imperial collection again. It left the palace at the end of the Qing dynasty. During the Republican era, it was acquired by Zhang Boju, who donated it to the state after the founding of the People's Republic of China. In 1958, the scroll was transferred to the collection of the Palace Museum.

    It is recorded in An Qi's "Moyuan Huiguan" (Comprehensive View of Calligraphy and Painting) and the Qing imperial catalog "Shiqu Baoji ¡¤ Chubian" (Stone Channel Imperial Collection, First Edition).