精气神Essence, Breath and Spirit (calligraphy fan)

A calligraphy fan. Three large characters, jing qi shen, are written from right to left in cursive script, spread wide across the curve of the sheet. The first is abbreviated and runs its strokes together; the second opens out in a broad hooked stroke over a few light marks; the third drops a long, heavily inked vertical through its center, a weighty close to the line.

The signature “Li Jumei” and a square seal sit at lower left, with an oblong seal at the right. Jing, qi and shen, essence, breath and spirit, are the “three treasures” of traditional Chinese thinking about health: when all three are full, body and mind are strong. On a fan they make a cheerful motto for keeping well.

此为书法扇面。自右至左草书“精气神”三个大字，随扇面弧度舒展排布，字距宽绰。“精”字米旁简省，右部连带而下；“气”字横钩开张，内藏数点，轻灵活泼；“神”字竖画纵贯，浓墨饱满，与前二字轻重相形。左下署“李菊梅书”，钤方印一枚，右侧另钤长方印一枚。

精、气、神，古人称为人身三宝，精足、气充、神旺，则身心康健。书此三字于扇上，寓养生自励之意。