Scripture of the Hidden Talisman (Yinfu jing), in standard script (kaishu)

Calligraphies have long been among the artworks most sought after by members of China's educated elite and those who wished to emulate them. Among the criteria used in determining the relative value of calligraphies were the age of the work and the fame of the artist. The writings of the Yeh family members and the nature of the works in their collection suggest an interest in unique signature pieces. This Yinfu jing is an example. Not only does the piece bear the characters for the signature of the famous calligrapher Chu Suiliang, but also the colophons, the earliest of which is dated 916, reveal a fascinating history of this work having been collected at the very highest level.

Yinfu jing can be translated as the "Scripture of the Hidden Talisman"; it presents a view of the grand cosmic order—in very obtuse language. Allegedly a revelation from the so-called Yellow Emperor, it appears in textual references as early as the late 500s.
The Yinfu jing text begins on the second leaf of this album. This version is written in standard script and consists of 461 characters arranged in 96 columns on twenty-four leaves. The text ends with "Respectfully written on the order of His Majesty, Imperial Diarist
Suiliang."