The Classics of the 20th Century Calligraphy

Written by Shen Zengzhi and others
Edited by Yin Shuren and others

The book is a summary of the magnum opus of famous Chinese calligraphers. The editing board includes the following 20 calligraphers in the book: Shen Zengzhi, Wu Changshuo, Kang Youwei, Zheng Xiaoxu, Yu Youren, Ma Yifu, Xie Wuliang, Li Shutong, Xu Shengweng, Qi Baishi, Shen Yinmo, Guo Moruo, Gao Ershi, Hu Xiaoshi, Wu Yuru, Wang Quchang, Lin Sanzhi, Sha Menghai, Lu Weizhao, and Tai Jingnong. They will have their own volumes to introduce their calligraphic theories and practice. This is achieved through collecting opinions from various artists and considering selection according to the calligraphers' artistic styles, characteristics, and influences. In every volume, about 120 representative works in the different periods, styles and forms of the calligraphers are included. In order to give a complete, comprehensive and objective introduction to the pursuit, unique styles and achievements of the calligraphers in the calligraphic and artistic realm, this collection lays the emphasis of selection of works on the different periods of the calligraphers' apprenticeship, exploration and success and include various forms of the calligraphy of the artists while considering readers' taste of appreciation. These works contain the regular scripts from their youth which are neat and strictly follow the rules; the works in the artists' middle age reflect their exploration of their own styles, so the forms of calligraphy are sometimes of regular scripts, sometimes of running style, sometimes of official scripts, and sometimes of seal characters infused with their assiduous pursuit of arts; while their works in their old ages are arranged exquisitely and written with ease, fully demonstrating the refined manners of the masters. Besides the works, a few articles by calligraphic critics under the editing board's request are also collected to analyse and review the calligrapher or his/her works in simple language by combining theory and practice. These articles point out the successes and shortcomings of the calligrapher and his/her works. Although they only represent the critics' own opinions, these articles definitely have their unique perspectives. These collections of works also include the following: interpretation of works which shows the regular characters of the works, introduction to the artist which contains a biography of the calligrapher's artistic career, and usually-used seals which are representatives of the seals which the calligrapher used quite often in different periods.

Comments: The 20th century is a century of unrest and drastic changes as well as of innovation and conflicts. Its history implies progress against difficulties and endurance and retreats as well, but more of fusing and sensibility. As a representative of Chinese arts, calligraphy demonstrates the various characters of Chinese culture and its pulse in this period in a positive way, which is a crystallisation of the development of human wisdom and deep exploration of the artists, and more than that, it reflects the evolution of the Chinese arts itself.

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