The benevolent one has a long life
One by one, I miss mr. Xu Deheng, a centenarian
Text/Yang Yongju (Japanese painter)
The ancients said: "The benevolent one will have his life", on the way to study and art, I met an old man who had accumulated virtue and high life expectancy and was admired by everyone. He was a student leader of the May Fourth Movement, the founder of the Jiusan Society, a famous political activist, educator, scholar, calligrapher, and pioneer of democracy, Mr. Xu Deheng.
Mr. Xu Deheng
Mr. Xu Deheng was admitted to Peking University after the Xinhai Revolution and became acquainted with Li Dazhao and Mao Zedong at Peking University. Introduced by Li Dazhao, he participated in the Junior Chinese Society. In the 1920s, many people of insight went to France to work and study. In 1920, Zhou Enlai, Cai Hesen, Zhao Shiyan, Chen Yannian, Wang Ruofei, Deng Xiaoping, Chen Yi, Li Fuchun, Nie Rongzhen, Xiang Jingyu, Cai Chang, Guo Longzhen, Li Weihan, Li Lisan, Xu Teli, etc. embarked on a cruise ship from Shanghai to France, and Xu Deheng was among them.
By the opportunity to go to France for work-study, Lao Junzhan, a student who knew Marie Curie, held a wedding ceremony at the China Hotel in Paris under the mediation of Cai Yuanpei. Later, he cultivated his daughter Chengcai, and his son-in-law was Deng Jiaxian, known as the "Founder of the Two Bombs".
Xu Deheng's calligraphy works
Born in a family with a strong cultural atmosphere, Xu Deheng was intelligent since childhood, and later entered a private school to study, which was highly praised by his teachers.
Xu Deheng is passionate about calligraphy and has a deep knowledge of calligraphy. In his youth, he started from the preface to the Orchid Pavilion, and he never stopped working,
Even if the government affairs are busy, they do not give up their love of calligraphy, and gradually form their own unique calligraphy style over time.
He believes that words can reflect a person's knowledge and talents, and he often teaches young people that as Chinese we must love Chinese culture and practice our brush characters well!
Throughout his life, he loved poetry and studied calligraphy, and all those who sought ink, regardless of their age or status, gladly agreed.
When the old man was 96 years old, he was in good spirits and did not forget to practice writing in his hospital bed. He lived in the world for 100 years, which is inseparable from his open-mindedness and persistence in daily calligraphy exercises.
Xu Deheng's calligraphy is loved by the public, and he has published "Selected Calligraphy Works of Xu Deheng" and served as the president of the Chinese Association of Elderly Calligraphers.
During the May Fourth Movement, Xu Deheng was arrested because he was the chairman of the Peking University Student Union, and during the War of Resistance Against Japan, he was arrested for advocating anti-Japanese resistance. Later, he was dismissed as a professor at Peking University, and in desperation, he went to teach elsewhere, endured hardships and persevered, and worked hard for the Chinese nation not to be bullied. Xu served as a political instructor at the Whampoa Military Academy and taught at Peking University during the Liberation War. In 1946, he founded the Jiusan Society in Chongqing and served as the chairman of the board. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth National People's Congresses, and chairman of the First to Sixth Central Committees of the Jiusan Society.
Xu Deheng experienced an era of great changes in China's modern and contemporary history. He closely followed the current situation, walked in the forefront of the times, and made his own unique contributions to the struggle for national independence, democratic science, and the prosperity and strength of the family, and became the backbone of the Chinese nation and the pioneer of democracy!
Yang Yongju and Mr. Xu Deheng are at the Jingxi Hotel in Beijing
In 1984, the Beijing Jingxi Hotel invited me to paint, and Mr. Xu Deheng was staying at the Jingxi Hotel. In my spare time, the leader of the unit introduced me to mr. Xu Deheng. At that time, Mr. Xu was more than ninety years old, still in good spirits, deaf and clear-eyed, did not need to wear glasses to see things, and spoke very clearly.
Talking about the interest in calligraphy and painting is very strong, Mr. Xu looked at my painting photos and inscribed the word "Fenfei" for me, encouraging me to work hard and create more and better works.
Mr. Xu Deheng is a cross-century old man, and reading his experience makes me revere. Seeing Mr. Xu Deheng made me unforgettable, and the shadow of an old man with high moral standing and a smile has always remained in my mind.
Bronze statue of Mr. Xu Deheng
Xu Deheng (1890 – February 8, 1990), originally known as Xu Ji (許础), was a native of Dehua, Jiangxi (present-day Jiujiang County, Jiangxi). Famous patriot, political activist, educator, scholar, founder and outstanding leader of the Jiusan Society.
Xu Deheng was a great patriot and loyal communist fighter: a famous political activist, the main founder and outstanding leader of the Jiusan Society.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as Minister of Fisheries, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.