AI and a human touch bring ancient Chinese 1,600-year-old love scroll back to life
Masterpiece by calligrapher Wang Xianzhi restored in full using artificial intelligence and fragments of the original
The masterpiece Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess, or Luoshen Fu, was recently restored by Peking University. The work was penned by the esteemed Chinese calligrapher Wang Xianzhi in the 4th century, yet only around a quarter of its verses have survived.
Based on the surviving 250 characters and a detailed analysis of their stylistic traits, the team used AI to replicate and expand upon the original style and form. The result is a complete rendition of 919 characters presented in full scroll form.
The university wrote that this endeavour “vividly illuminates the fusion potential of ‘AI plus culture’ – where traditional calligraphic art gains fresh modes of expression in the digital age”.
