Before the establishment of the China Book Association, the Shanghai Book Association had already been established, and this year it happened to be a nail.
In the enthusiastic appeal of Shen Yinmo and other calligraphers of the older generation to inherit and carry forward the traditional Chinese calligraphy art, on April 8, 1961, the Shanghai Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Research Association, the predecessor of the Shanghai Calligraphers Association, was officially established, marking the birth of the first public calligraphy social group in New China in Shanghai.
On December 31, 2021, the "Symposium on the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Shanghai Calligraphers Association and the Opening Ceremony of the 'Ru seal - Documentary Exhibition on the 60th Anniversary of the Shanghai Calligraphy Association' sponsored by the Shanghai Calligraphers Association" was held at the Shanghai Literary and Art Hall. The documentary exhibition sorts out the history of the Shanghai Book Association over the past 60 years and the achievements of Shanghai calligraphy art in all aspects along with the pace of the development of the times.
Showroom scene
In the past 60 years, the name of the Shanghai Calligraphers Association has changed several times, and it has successively become the Shanghai Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Research Association, the Shanghai Branch of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, the Shanghai Calligraphers Association, and the Shanghai Calligraphers Association. The exhibition is exhibited in a combination of graphic and physical documents, and is divided into eight sections: timeline, association construction, creative exhibition, academic research, education and training, cooperation and exchange, publication results, and interactive souvenirs. The reporter learned that the exhibition was inscribed by Sun Xiaoyun, chairman of the China Book Association, and the name of the exhibition was "Ru Yin", which was intended to record the imprint of the Book Association in the past sixty years.
Entering the exhibition hall, the audience can see the desk used by Shen Yinmo, and the exhibition wall on the side is printed with a simulated copy of the manuscript of his book "Student Xi Zi Ti" and a simulation of "Answering People's Questions Calligraphy". In front of the desk, there is an image. The relevant person in charge of the Shanghai Book Association told reporters that this image is called "Write a Good Brush Character", which was filmed by the film studio in the early days of the establishment of the Book Engraving Association. Subsequently, the history of the Shanghai Book Association unfolded to the audience like a long scroll.
At the exhibition hall site, Shen Yinmo's used desk
Exhibition hall scene, the image "Write a good brush word"
The reporter saw at the scene that the exhibition was in the construction section of the association, presenting the development process of the Shanghai Book Association in the past sixty years with a timeline. In the creative exhibition section, we can see the continuous enrichment, innovation and development of the Content, Scale and Form of calligraphy curation by the Shanghai Book Association. The final interactive souvenir area has set up a member directory search device, so that each member can find their name and mark in the 60-year journey of the association.
"Calligraphy as an Art", advocating the establishment of a society of calligraphers
After the founding of New China, a hundred wastes were waiting to be revived, and the attention and development of calligraphy in neighboring Japan caused a high degree of self-consciousness among Chinese heroes and benevolent people. It was in this context of the times that Mr. Shen Yinmo, a famous calligrapher and educator, proposed to Vice Premier Chen Yi that Vice Premier Chen Yi submit to Chairman Mao Zedong for approval, and the central government approved the establishment of a calligraphy organization in Shanghai. On April 8, 1961, the Shanghai Calligraphers Association, the predecessor of the Shanghai Calligraphers Association, was established, marking the official birth of the first public calligraphy social group in New China in Shanghai.
The documentation for this exhibition has to be traced back to the preparatory stage from 1957 to 1961. On March 8, 1957, at the calligraphy symposium held by the Fine Arts Group of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Chinese Political Consultative Conference, Feng Zikai presided over the meeting, and Shen Yinmo, Wang Fu'an and more than 20 other people attended the meeting, at which they unanimously agreed that "calligraphy as an art advocates the establishment of a calligraphers' society and exhibitions". In May of the same year, Bai Shuo published an article in the Liberation Daily entitled "We Must Attach Importance to Calligraphy and Golden Stone Seal Carving", calling for support for the preparation of the Shanghai Calligraphy Society. Later, in 1959, the Third National Committee of the Chinese Political Consultative Conference was held in Beijing, and Shen Yinmo proposed to Chen Yi to establish a calligraphy and seal engraving organization during the meeting.
Wen Wei Po, March 9, 1957, 2nd Edition, "Calligraphy is an Art: Shanghai Calligraphers Hold a Symposium"
Constitution of Shanghai Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Society (Draft)"
In November 1960, the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture invited Shanghai calligraphers to hold a symposium in the conference room of the Municipal People's Committee on the issue of the organization of calligraphy and seal engravers. After discussion, it was proposed to establish the Preparatory Committee of the Shanghai Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Society. On December 14, the Propaganda Department of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee of the Communist Party of China approved the establishment of the Shanghai Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Research Association, without the need to establish a society. On the 17th, the Preparatory Committee of the Shanghai Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Research Association held its first meeting, at which the brief was discussed and adopted, and the name was determined as "Shanghai Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Research Society", and it was decided that the meeting site would be located in the Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy, and the administrative secretary work would be managed by the Academy. It is proposed to elect Shen Yinmo as chairman of the Preparatory Committee, and Guo Shaoyu, Wang Geyi, and Pan Boying as vice chairmen. The membership fee is set at one dollar per annum.
Wen Wei Po, April 9, 1961, 2nd edition of "Shanghai Establishment of Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Research Society"
Xinmin Evening News, April 9, 1961, 2nd Edition, "A New Page in the Art of Calligraphy and Seal Engraving- A Glimpse of the Shanghai Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Exhibition"
On April 8, 1961, the Shanghai Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Research Association was officially established in the Shanghai Museum. At the meeting of the members after the inaugural meeting, Shen Yinmo was elected as the chairman of the committee, and Guo Shaoyu, Wang Geyi, and Pan Boying were elected as vice chairmen. The office of the association is located in the Chinese Academy of Painting in Shanghai. From April 9 to April 23, the first calligraphy and seal engraving exhibition after its establishment was held.
Cultivate young backbones and hold joint exhibitions in many places
In order to pass on the art of calligraphy, since its inception, the Shanghai Calligraphers Association has attached great importance to the training of calligraphy education. At the beginning of the establishment of the association, a calligraphy training course was held in the Shanghai Youth Palace, which was personally taught by Shen Yinmo, Guo Shaoyu, Bai Shuo and others, attracting a large number of enthusiasts to come to study, including Zhou Huijun, the backbone of the later book association.
Xinmin Evening News, November 6, 1961, 2nd edition, "Young people love the art of calligraphy, and the number of places in the amateur calligraphy study class for young people will be increased"
At the exhibition hall site, the book engraving will be published in the early days of the establishment of the posters
Later, in the 1970s, Duo Yunxuan founded the magazine "Calligraphy", which provided a platform for these young enthusiasts to display their talents. Zhou Zhigao, head of Calligraphy magazine, recalled this past in an interview with The Paper. He said that at that time, he was still working at Duoyunxuan, "In 1972, in addition to the ink couplets of Chairman Mao's poems to be published, we also had to find and train new calligraphers." Wen Wei Po organized a corresponding team of workers, peasants, and soldiers, and I think the calligraphy community can also cultivate its own team. Many old gentlemen in the field of calligraphy are working and have not yet been liberated. Therefore, we found the young backbone of the Youth Palace study class of the Shanghai Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Research Association established by Mr. Shen Yinmo in Shanghai in 1961, including Zhou Huijun, Zhang Jingfang, and Han Tianheng who returned from the army. In the past few years, we have gradually developed from 30 people in 1973 to more than 150 people in 1975, becoming the basic backbone of the Shanghai Calligraphers Association after its restoration. ”
The Exhibition of Spring Sea Calligraphy in Toyodo, Japan, is set up on a billboard on Middle Road in Yan'an
Chen Yusun (right) and Feng Zikai (third from right), vice presidents of the Shanghai Branch of the Chinese Association for Foreign Culture, Shen Yinmo, chairman of the Shanghai Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Research Association, and Guo Shaoyu, vice chairman of the Shanghai Association of Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving (second from right), visited the exhibition on the opening day
In 1973, the list of participating authors of the first Shanghai Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Exhibition after the "Cultural Revolution" (handwritten by Sun Weizu)
In addition to nurturing the younger generation of calligraphers, the Book Club also holds exhibitions in many places. In 1978, with the "calligraphy fever" booming throughout the country, exchanges between Shanghai and various provinces and cities became increasingly active. In addition, the Shanghai Book Association also has contacts with Southeast Asian countries. Among them, the most famous is that since the 1970s, Shanghai and Osaka have formed a sister city, jointly held the "Shanghai-Osaka Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Exhibition", and formulated a long-term exchange plan, and then held a group exhibition every four years. In the exhibition hall, the audience can see the photos of the time, as well as the invitations of previous joint exhibitions, and the admission tickets to the exhibition. At that time, famous calligraphers such as Fang Fuyi and Song Richang also inscribed inscriptions for these exhibitions.
At the exhibition hall site, Fang went to the title "Shanghai Osaka Calligraphy seal engraving exchange exhibition"
Shanghai Osaka Calligraphy Exchange Exhibition Invitation and Exhibition Admission Ticket
In 1991, the first Chinese and Japanese calligraphy and painting works were openly solicited for exhibition catalogs
Hu Wensui, Ye Luyuan, Lu Yushao, and others visited Japan with a delegation of Shanghai calligraphers
In May 1981, the Chinese Calligraphers Association was established. At this point, the Shanghai Calligraphy Association was renamed as the Shanghai Branch of the Chinese Calligraphers Association. Later, in 1989, the association was renamed "Shanghai Calligraphers Association", and then changed to "Shanghai Calligraphers Association". And these are the stories of the Shanghai Book Association that predates the China Book Association. In the exhibition hall, the audience can see the ink written by Mr. Xie Zhiliu for the last two names. And this handwriting, the Shanghai Book Association continues to use to this day.
At the exhibition hall site, Xie Zhiliu inscribed "Shanghai Calligraphers Association" and "Shanghai Calligraphers Association"
From March 21 to 25, 1991, Xie Zhiliu, chairman of the Shanghai Book Association, and others visited the first Sino-Japanese calligraphy and painting exhibition
Sixty reopened the nails
Although the name of the association has changed many times, the deeds of the Shanghai Book Association have been continuing. In the past 60 years, the Shanghai Book Association has made achievements in creating exhibitions, academic theories, education and training, etc., and the number of book associations is also growing. And people's love for the traditional art of calligraphy has never stopped.
On the same day, the symposium on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai Calligraphers Association was held in the Shanghai Municipal Federation of Literature and Literature. Ding Shenyang, vice chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Federation of Literature and Literature and chairman of the Shanghai Calligraphers Association, and Li Xin, secretary of the party group of the China Calligraphers Association and vice chairman of the association, summed up the sixty years of the Shanghai Book Association.
The 3rd General Assembly of the Shanghai Branch of the Chinese Calligraphers Association
In 1991, Chairman Xie Zhiliu spoke at the Spring Festival Gala for the 30th Anniversary of the Founding of the Shanghai Book Association
Ding Shenyang said that through the continuous efforts of several generations of leaders of the Shanghai Book Association, the Shanghai Book Association has made positive contributions to inheriting and disseminating calligraphy culture, cultivating and educating calligraphy talents, and promoting the development of calligraphy, and has made great achievements. These achievements are inseparable from all the predecessors of calligraphers who have contributed to the cause of Calligraphy in Shanghai. "I believe that the Shanghai Book Association, which has a deep historical precipitation and a heritage, will continue to be upright and innovative, maintain the characteristics of the Haipai tradition, establish the brand of Haipai calligraphy, and promote the construction of calligraphy culture in the new era."
In 1992, the Shanghai Book Association celebrated its 30th anniversary inscription appraisal activity
Li Xin said that shanghai book cooperation is the first public calligraphy social group in China, with the role of The forerunner of China's book circle in the exploration and practice of exhibition, training, scholarship, exchange and other aspects, and has made indelible contributions to the cultivation of calligraphy art talents and the international dissemination of calligraphy. In recent years, the Shanghai Book Association has combined the characteristics of Shanghai's urban development and has made many breakthroughs and developments in the construction of Internet + Associations, membership management, cross-border integration, and exhibition models. It is hoped that the Shanghai Book Association will further give full play to the professional advantages of the association in the future, launch high-grade excellent works, and promote the high-quality development of the calligraphy industry.
As the Shanghai Calligraphers Association celebrates its 60th anniversary, a new reincarnation will be reopened.
The exhibition "Ruyin - Documentary Exhibition for the 60th Anniversary of the Shanghai Book Association" will be on display until February 26.