Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 2 works by Su Dongpo in our catalogue
In short
To the gallery's eye, Su Dongpo's most famous painting is Title(Japanese): 行書李白仙詩 (1093), whose original hangs in the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts, Осака. Of the 2 works by Su Dongpo in our catalog, the gallery presents the 2 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
In the delicate interplay of ink and paper, few works capture the raw, unbridled energy of the Song Dynasty quite like "行書李白仙詩" (Running Script: Li Bai's Immortal Poetry). Attributed to the legendary master Su Dongpo, this calligraphic masterpiece is not merely a collection of characters but a rhythmic performance frozen in time. Created around 1093, when Su Shi was fifty-eight years old, the work embodies the maturity of an artist…
Su Shi, also known by his courtesy name Zizhan and literary name Dongpojushi, was born in Meishan, Sichuan province. He passed the Imperial Exam in the Jiayou period. He then served as governor of several places including Hangzhou and Yingzhou, and the highest position he assumed was the precident of Li Bu. Ministry of Rites . Su was renowned as one of “the Three Sus” along with his father Su…
The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Su Dongpo | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts |
Осака | 1 | Title(Japanese): 行書李白仙詩 |
 Long Museum West Bund |
Shanghai | 1 | Gongfu Tie Calligraphy |
Every dated original by Su Dongpo on this page was made in 1093: here they are, the most famous first.
Pick a year to see its originals.
In the delicate interplay of ink and paper, few works capture the raw, unbridled energy of the Song Dynasty quite like "行書李白仙詩" (Running Script: Li Bai's Immortal Poetry). Attributed to the legendary master Su Dongpo, this calligraphic masterpiece is not merely a collection of characters but a rhythmic performance frozen in time. Created around 1093, when Su Shi was fifty-eight years old, the work embodies the maturity of an artist…
Title(Japanese): 行書李白仙詩 (1093).
56 years old: Title(Japanese): 行書李白仙詩 dates from 1093, and Su Dongpo was born in 1037.
Our catalog holds 2 works by Su Dongpo.
Mostly in Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts (Осака) and Long Museum West Bund (Shanghai). The museum table above lists them all.
Su Dongpo, also known by his courtesy name Zizhan and his art name Householder Dongpo, was far more than a mere painter; he was a towering figure of the Song dynasty, a polymath whose influence stretched across literature, calligraphy, and gastronomy. Born in Meishan, China, into a prominent literary family, he was the son of Su Xun and brother to Su Zhe. While his ambitions often led him toward high-ranking officialdom, his life was marked by the turbulent tides of political factionalism. As a scholar-official, he frequently found himself the target of intense court struggles between reformers and conservatives, leading to periods of exile that, paradox and irony notwithstanding, became the very crucibles in which his creative spirit flourished.
Though often celebrated as one of the "Eight Great Prose Writers of the Tang and Song Dynasties," Su Dongpo’s artistic legacy is deeply etched into the rhythmic dance of ink. He was a master of calligraphy, particularly renowned for his command over running script and regular script. His brushwork was not merely a technical exercise but a profound expression of character—a "rhythmic performance frozen in time." In works such as his running script inspired by the poetry of Li Bai, one can witness a transition from the rigid constraints of formal training to a voice that possessed an unfettered grace and a muscularity of stroke. His technique often featured a signature "rising right corner" motion, providing structural integrity even amidst the fluid, sweeping gait of his characters.
The essence of Su Dongpo lies in the seamless integration of his intellectual depth with his aesthetic output. He was a true literatus, whose life and art were inseparable from the philosophical and natural world around him. His influence extended into the very fabric of Chinese culture, from the way scholars adorned their studies with Lake Tai rocks to the culinary traditions that still bear his name today. The famous dish Dongpo pork serves as a delicious testament to his status as a renowned gastronome, linking his historical persona to the sensory delights of the era.
His historical significance is found in the enduring resonance of his spirit—a blend of romantic exuberance and profound philosophical strength. Whether through the evocative power of his prose or the energetic vitality of his calligraphy, Su Dongpo captured the raw energy of an entire dynasty. He remains a symbol of resilience, an artist who transformed the hardships of political exile into a prolific era of cultural achievement, leaving behind a body of work that continues to breathe with the weight of history and the lightness of poetic inspiration.
