Reborn Treasure Appraiser: I Really Didn’t Want to Be an Expert

Chapter 88 Lin Sicheng, buy it quickly

Dugang Tower was built in the 14th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign and was later called Yuhua Pavilion. It is the only place in the Forbidden City where the statues of the Four Gods are enshrined and the Four Divisions (the four stages of Tantric practice) are practiced.

There are four floors in total, the first is the Karma Hall, the second is the Action Hall, the third is the Yoga Hall, and the fourth is the Supreme Yoga Hall.

The so-called supreme symbolizes the highest realm of Tantric Buddhism. To put it more bluntly: only meditate on the Laughing Buddha.

Adding "Cochin" after the name of the temple has only one meaning: this fragment of the scroll came from the Qing court and was specially used by Emperor Qianlong to practice Tantric Buddhism in the Joyful Buddha Temple.

How precious is it?

If the remaining scroll was just an imitation of Dong Qichang's calligraphy, it would be worth about one million yuan. With Xiang Molin's human-shaped seal, the value would be almost half of that.

But this seal can double the value of the broken axis.

Don't doubt it: it was collected by the Qing court and viewed by the emperor, so it is definitely worth this price, and at least.

But the expensiveness is secondary, the main thing is the wonderful feeling: in his previous life, the first imperial artifact that Lin Sicheng appraised was from the Qianlong period.

I feel like I have a strong connection with Emperor Qianlong?

While thinking, Lin Sicheng raised his head and exchanged glances with Ye Anning, but cousin Ye was obviously confused.

But it’s right to be confused: this is Brahmi body, even Hao Jun would be at a loss as to what to do.

After controlling his emotions, Lin Sicheng continued to translate the second side.

It is also a square seal, but it is much larger and has more letters.

Still copying and translating at the same time, Lin Sicheng wrote down the translation of the first word group in Lanzhati (Sanskrit used exclusively in Tibetan Buddhism) on paper, which roughly means Heavenly King, God.

The second one, "Miao De," can also be translated as "Miao Xiang," or "Miao Ji Xiang," or more directly: Manjushri Bodhisattva.

Then there is the third word group: Chakravartin, which can also be directly translated as Emperor...

But when he wrote the last letter representing the Holy King, his fingers couldn't help but tremble.

What is this, the Heavenly King Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Wheel-Turning King?
This is indeed the case when translated literally, but it is not the case when understood. Rather, it means: Manjushri Bodhisattva, the Great Emperor!

It is no exaggeration to say that no matter how many lives he has lived, he would have thought that he could remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before his eyes. However, when he saw this line of translation, his heart beat uncontrollably.

What did I just say: I have a strong connection with His Majesty Qianlong...and now we meet?
This is Emperor Qianlong's Buddhist scriptures...

The knuckles holding the pen tightened involuntarily, and Lin Sicheng's Adam's apple couldn't help but roll.

Can't scroll down anymore.

Because he wasn't invited by that woman, and she didn't pay him for the overthrow?

He put down his pen, sat up straight, his cheeks puffed up like buns, and his breath slowly exhaled from his lips.

Lin Sicheng's face was expressionless, but seeing him suddenly stop writing, Ye Anning still felt nervous: "Lin Sicheng, how is it?"

Lin Sicheng didn't say anything, just stared at her.

At first, Ye Anning was confused, but suddenly, as if he thought of something, his eyes became brighter and brighter: The scroll is authentic?
Ye Anning moved her lips, her voice trembling slightly. "Lin Sicheng, the indigo silk made by the Great Yuan Palace is rare and very beautiful, isn't it?"

Lin Sicheng nodded.

"Four layers of mounting, Yuan Dynasty style?"

Lin Sicheng nodded again.

"The painting paper looks a bit like the Imperial Palace paper of the Great Yuan Dynasty... but it's too new. It seems to be an imitation of the Mingren Hall paper, but I'm not sure..."

Lin Sicheng's eyes lit up and he really wanted to give a thumbs up.

Think about it again, how much effort did he put in to find the wax film between the gold foil and the dragon pattern?

He is not bragging: Among those who are engaged in calligraphy and painting appraisal, how many have seen what Mingren Hall paper looks like and what the process is like? Is it coated with wax first or with foil and graining first?

Due to insufficient knowledge, even if one finds the wax film in the middle, one will just think that the process is like this.

But Ye Anning could. At least she dared to suspect that this imitation wasn't some other Yuan Dynasty paper, but the legendary Mingren Hall paper. This alone made her superior to ninety-nine percent of calligraphy and painting appraisers. Secretly amazed, Lin Sicheng nodded again.

Ye Anning's eyes became brighter and brighter, like rippling water and sparkling.

His lips trembled slightly, revealing his excitement. "What about the calligraphy? Whose style does it resemble? Jin Cong, or... Dong Qichang?"

When he heard the word "Dong Qichang", Lin Sicheng was stunned.

The Jin Cong Ye Anning mentioned is the calligrapher Jin Cong from the mid-Ming Dynasty, who dedicated his life to one thing: imitating Zhao Mengfu.

They imitated his paintings and calligraphy, to the extent that they dug out the original signature and added the three characters "Zhao Mengfu" in Zhao style, and then sold them as authentic works.

Xiang Molin did just that, and the Jin Cong's "Running Script Poetry Scroll" and "Imitation of Zhao Mengfu's Calligraphy Album" now treasured in the Palace Museum came from this way.

The key lies in the last "Dong Qichang": Dong Qichang's extant works, whether they are calligraphy, paintings, or rubbings, are all left after his calligraphy style matured in his middle and late years.

However, this piece of calligraphy was created in his youth before he passed the imperial examination. There are huge differences in the starting point of the strokes, the brushstrokes, the strength of the brush, and the meaning of the brush.

Moreover, this is a copy, so there are fewer traces of personal writing style.

But Ye Anning can still find traces of Dong Qichang between the lines. How strong must his eyesight and appreciation skills be?

Being so strong, Lin Sicheng couldn't help but admire him.

If we must make a comparison, Lin Sicheng's strength lies in his knowledge reserves. He knows what Zhao Mengfu's original works look like and understands a little Sanskrit.

Awesome, cousin Ye!
His expression was serious. "Sister An Ning studied Art Appreciation (Chinese and Foreign Art) at the National Academy of Fine Arts, right? She only studied for five years?"

Ye Anning was confused and didn't know why he suddenly asked this: "If you don't take the postgraduate entrance examination, you can study for five years at most!"

Is this what I'm asking?
What Lin Sicheng wanted to say was: No matter how well or how thoroughly you learn, it will only take five years.

If all students taught by Gome have this level of appraisal, how can Peking University and Xi'an University survive?

Lin Sicheng also knew: the powerful one was not Baoli's appraiser, but Ye Anning...

"Sister An Ning, who authenticated this broken shaft?"

"I was the first and second examiner... so I've always been inclined to believe that this is an imitation of Dong Qichang's calligraphy... and..."

Ye Anning paused for a moment, his eyes fell on the circle, and he blinked again.

To be more precise, that round seal with the Chinese character for "人" in it...

Lin Sicheng was shocked again: She even recognized Xiang Molin’s anti-counterfeiting stamp?

So she knew very well that this was the hidden secret of the Qing court...

Lin Sicheng narrowed his eyes, controlling his throbbing eyelids, and glanced at the two leaders beside him: "But your company's leaders and appraisers don't agree?"

"Yes," Ye Anning pursed her lips. "The appraiser said that the brushstrokes, turns, and brushwork in this calligraphy are very different from Dong Qichang's style, and are even more different from Zhao Mengfu's characteristics..."

Lin Sicheng didn't know what to say: This was an imitation by Dong Qichang when he was young. His style had not yet been finalized. It would be strange if it could be similar.
What does this mean? It means Ye Anning put the most accurate identification results in front of everyone, even emphasized them countless times, but no one believed them.

The appraiser doesn’t believe it, the leader doesn’t believe it, and even the seller doesn’t believe it!
Otherwise, Teacher Ma wouldn’t have the expression he has now: a little bit of sarcasm in his humor, and a little bit of ridicule in his contempt.

But then again: I just graduated from college, and I was given such an outrageous appraisal result. I have to be stupid to believe it...

Seeing that Lin Sicheng didn't say anything, but his eyes were full of admiration and appreciation, Ye Anning's face slowly turned red.

Not shy, but excited: Lin Sicheng's silence was equivalent to tacitly accepting the final outcome: Dong Qichang's imitation brush, hidden in the palace...

When Lin Sicheng nodded imperceptibly, Ye Anning's eyes suddenly widened, her long eyelashes trembled slightly with her rapid breathing, and the blush that spread from the tip of her ear to her collarbone was like a newly blooming rose.

Suddenly, she bit her lower lip again, her eyes misted, and she stared at Lin Sicheng's eyes without blinking.

At first glance, it looks like a pair of eye contact.

But in an instant, Lin Sicheng understood what she meant: Buy it, Lin Sicheng, buy it quickly...

(End of this chapter)