The couplet reading “Smoke and cloud gather amid the walls of mansions and pavilions, while grasses, woods and streams in the garden carry the pleasant smell of books.”

The couplet reading “Smoke and cloud gather amid the walls of mansions and pavilions, while grasses, woods and streams in the garden carry the pleasant smell of books.”

The couplet is hung on the gate of Luokeng Abode, with the inscription “Written by Wu Xuezao in the 6th lunar month of Ji-Hai Year” and a seal. The black cursive script in a green background demonstrates the profound skill that follows the tradition of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi, featuring broad structures and crisp strokes. It shares some similarities with Wang Wenzhi, who was dubbed light ink master calligrapher in the Qing. The couplet means that the buildings in the yard are tall, so one can oftentimes see encircling smokes and clouds; and that there is huge collection of books in this family of scholars, so even the plants and water in the garden smell like books. This is a metaphor for somewhere that is tranquil and good for reading books.