The "filial conduct" as mentioned in the letter, written by su shi, refers to the daily activities of a person who's mourning the passing of a parent, indicating that the recipient guo tingping was in such a period of grief. From the contents, it appears that the letter was written in 1075. This letter was written in semi-cursive script on light pastel-colored paper covered with a turtle-shell pattern and a small turtle figure inside each of the hexagonal motifs. Although the rites of mourning called for simplicity in every aspect of daily life, su shi still chose a kind of decorative paper pressed with this refined turtle-shell pattern, perhaps taking into consideration that ancient inscribed funerary stones in the shape of a turtle were decorated with a turtle-shell pattern. Place of creation: China during the Song dynasty. Dimensions: 26.5 x 30.5 cm. Medium: ink on paper. Collection: National Palace Museum. Letter to Filial Gentleman Guo Tingping, by Su Shi (decorated paper)
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