Winter, 1980.
Early this morning, a young man from Rongbaozhai on Liulichang West Street outside the Pingmen Gate in Beijing came with a serious look.
RongBaozhai (荣宝斋), named after "Wen Huiyou, Rong name Bao", was formerly known as the "Songzhu Zhai" during the Kangxi Dynasty of the Qing Dynasty in 1672, mainly for the operation of the four treasures of the literary house. In 1950, a public-private partnership, RongBaozhai transformed into a state-owned enterprise, and its business business gradually expanded into cultural play collection, calligraphy and painting business, stationery supplies, woodblock watermarks, mounting restoration, etc., with the reputation of "folk Forbidden City".
The young man was a girl, wearing glasses, and her short neat hair set off her thin face, making her look more handsome and civilized. Her purpose of coming here was not to buy calligraphy and paintings, but to take the professional examination of seal engraving.
In the 1980s and 1990s, seal engraving was an unpopular art, and there were very few women engaged in seal engraving in China.
In addition to examining sketches and sketching, the examiner also requires the word "Proud Snow" to be carved on one stone.
As the morning passed, the girl had carved only one word of "pride." At noon, the examiner asked her to go home, but she begged to stay and finish the carving. The examiner agreed. So, she didn't finish carving these two words until after 5 p.m.
The results of the examination were announced, and the girl won the championship in a "moment" and was selected by Rong Baozhai from more than 30 candidates.
And this girl is the Chinese female seal engraving artist who will later be well-known at home and abroad, and is known as the "Chinese Divine Sword Woman".
△ Luo Qianpeng: Member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He is the president of the Seal Engraving Institute of the China Academy of Art, a national first-class artist and doctoral supervisor. He is a deputy to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, a member of the Expert Committee of the National Arts Fund, and an expert enjoying special government allowances from the State Council. (Photo courtesy of respondents)
Love, unforgettable art set sail
When Luo Qianpeng was 7 years old, her father held her and carved the first party seal of her life, "Qianzi".
"My father was a man of letters. He studied Western painting at the Shanghai National Art College, and also worked as a music teacher in a middle school, where he dabbled in painting and seal engraving. In their generation of literati, piano, chess, calligraphy and painting were essential basic qualities. Speaking of his father, Luo Qianqian's tone had attachment and admiration.
Qianzi is the nickname given to Luo Qian by his father.
Under the influence and guidance of her father, Luo Qianpeng showed a strong interest in seals in her childhood, and often held a carving knife and a stone carving seal in a decent manner.
"When I was a child, I loved my father's study, and I was attracted by the fact that his shelves were filled with all kinds of books, especially the thread wrapped in layers of navy blue cloth. There is a faint fragrance in the study, which should be what we often call 'the fragrance of books'. Luo Qianqian recalled.
At that time, Luo Qianpeng was not obsessed with singing, dancing, or beautiful clothing and jewelry, but liked to be tied in the old paper pile. She learned printmaking and reading notation from the Palace Weekly, and usually took a carving knife and a stone to copy.
Luo Qianpeng said with a smile: "At that time, I couldn't talk about professionalism, I was just hanging out on my own, but I was already famous in the street community, and often my classmates, neighbors and friends came to me to engrave." ”
In 1980, Luo Qianpeng decided to apply for the RongBaozhai examination and was successfully admitted, officially embarking on the road of seal engraving art.
At that time, she certainly would not have thought that this entrance was 25 years, growth and achievement, laughter and tears, all witnessed here.
RongBaozhai embodies the elements of traditional Chinese culture everywhere, with pen, ink, paper and stacked seals on the table, ancient books in order, and ancient paintings hanging high. What is particularly important is that there are many masters gathered here, and Luo Qianpeng has received guidance from kang yin, Dun Lifu, Xu Zhiqian, Xiong Boqi and other old gentlemen. At the same time, Luo Qianpeng has also received the care and cultivation of Mr. Qi Gong, a master of contemporary Chinese calligraphy and a master of traditional Chinese studies, which she will never forget.
Through the continuous improvement of seal engraving techniques and the strengthening of systematic study of traditional culture, coupled with their own talents, in the third month of entering the creative group, Luo Qianpeng, as the youngest seal engraving artist, hung up a "pen list" in Rongbaozhai.
"Pen list" is an insider word, which means that seal engraving works can be clearly marked for customers to seal, which is a symbol of strength and influence.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the art of seal engraving was loved by the people of Japan, South Korea, Singapore and other countries, and was often used as a gift to foreign guests. Luo Qianqian's seal carving is majestic and unrestrained, and the style is self-contained, and many overseas guests come to order her seal. Every year, Luo Qianqian receives a large number of orders.
The fame is greater, but Luo Qianpeng is not impetuous, but more precipitated in the heart, delving into the skills, encountering difficult words to practice repeatedly, and striving to overcome difficulties.
"Practice makes perfect. Later, when I was busiest, I could carve more than ten square seals a day, which was particularly fast. My knife skills and skills have improved by leaps and bounds, and I am familiar with text and design. Luo Qianqian said.
Unconsciously, she completed the change from quantitative accumulation to quality.
In 1984, Luo Qianqian exchanged views with an important Japanese seal engraving society at a pen meeting. Luo Qianqian waved it away, and instantly presented the seal of "Miki Cuigeng" in front of the Japanese side, and immediately won the applause of the whole hall. Her Japanese counterpart gave her the title of "Divine Sword Girl" on the spot.
Opportunities are always left to those who are prepared.
In 1992, Luo Pengpeng became the first member of the "Dunhuang Ancient Exhibition" art troupe in the mainland to be sent to Taiwan to hold a calligraphy and seal engraving exhibition. The exhibition lasted for nearly half a year and was a great success. On behalf of the mainland, Luo Qianpeng carved name stamps for Mr. and Mrs. Zhang Xueliang, Mr. and Mrs. Jiang Chingguo, and Mr. Chen Lifu. This incident caused a sensation in Taiwan. After returning from the end, Luo Qianqian gained the reputation of "National Treasure Seal Engraver".
Since then, Luo Qianqian's artistic creation has been unstoppable, her techniques have become more pure, the seal style of Yushu Linfeng, unique; the calligraphy style is vigorous and powerful, known as "sword and axe body".
In 1994, Luo Qianpeng was transferred to the editorial department of calligraphy and seal engraving of Rongbaozhai Publishing House. At this time, the domestic popular "going abroad fever", Rong Baozhai creative department of 6 Indians 4 went to Japan, only Luo Pengpeng and an old gentleman insisted, and together transferred to the publishing house to enrich the professional editing force.
During her work at the publishing house, Luo Qianpeng presided over and edited 100 professional books on seal engraving calligraphy, and won the National Book Award and the Editor's Design Award for many times. Although the editing and publishing work is tedious and the responsibility is heavy, it allows her to appreciate the original works of the masters with superior skills and diverse styles, which further improves the depth of her thoughts, cultural thickness and theoretical level.
And this is another 10 years.
Recalling the various pasts of engaging in seal engraving work, Luo Qianqian sighed: "The moment our seal comes out is the text of the Spring and Autumn Warring States and The Qin Dynasty, as well as the famous sayings of the Hundred Sons and Hundreds of Families, classical poetry, and the process of seal carving is like a dialogue with the sages." It's a wonderful process! It is not limited by time and space, so it can make today's young people happy. Isn't that a force? If it is not power, how can the art of seal engraving be loved by so many people through thousands of years? Isn't that amazing? When it came to the emotional place, Luo Qianqian's gaze was as innocent as a child.
Luo Qianpeng said: "Because I am a Chinese, I can have the opportunity to contact and engage in seal engraving calligraphy, and I can fully appreciate the beauty of traditional Chinese culture." ”
This is an unforgettable love!
Get together and let the world fall in love with "China Seal"
On July 1, 2021, the Communist Party of China celebrated its centennial anniversary. In the hall on the first floor of the CPPCC National Committee organs, an exhibition of calligraphy and painting works by CPPCC members celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China is on display.
As a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Luo Qianpeng has a number of seal engraving works in the exhibition. In her own words, the works in the exhibition have been selected to her satisfaction in recent years.
Since practicing for nearly 20,000 square meters, which works have made Luo Qianpeng more satisfied?
Luo Qianpeng unveiled the "mystery": among them, there should be four works: "Governing the Country", "The Belt and Road", "Getting Rid of Poverty" and "Zhijiang New Language".
△ In the exhibition of calligraphy and painting works celebrated by members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Luo Qianqian's seal carving works. The enlarged seals identify the interpretations as follows (from right to left): Governing the Country, The Belt and Road Initiative, Getting Rid of Poverty, and The New Language of the River. (Photo courtesy of respondents)
Time back to 2014.
On October 8, 2014, the launch ceremony of the first volume of President Xi Jinping's book "Xi Jinping on Governing the Country" sponsored by the Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Embassy in Germany was held in Frankfurt, Germany. At the launch ceremony, the distinctive seal inscription logo " Governing the Country " was written by Luo Qianqian.
"I'm excited to have such an important assignment. The most important step was the design, which I overthrew several times myself. I hope that the carved works can give people a sense of grandeur and righteousness. Since then, the launch ceremony of the second volume of multilingual books and the promotion of the english version of the third volume have been followed by the theme of the Luo Qian seal engraving.
In November 2018, at the premiere ceremony of the Western edition of President Xi Jinping's book "Getting Rid of Poverty" and "Zhijiang Xinyu" held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and at the launch ceremony of the English and French editions of "Xi Jinping on the Belt and Road" held in Beijing in April 2019, the theme logo of Luo Qianqian was once again displayed in front of the eyes of the world.
In the exhibition of calligraphy and painting works celebrated by members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Luo Qianpeng enlarged all four works by 20 centimeters and accompanied them with the original seal. Under the four works, there are also seals such as "Don't Forget your original heart" and "Angel in White" carved by Luo Qianqian to help fight the epidemic.
In Luo Qianpeng's view, seal engraving has become an artistic representation of China's excellent traditional culture in contemporary times. She has been trying to perfectly integrate classical seal engraving art and modern design art through innovative ideas, accelerating the pace of "Chinese Seal" to the world.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic is raging around the world. In order to support all the anti-epidemic people in the frontline, Luo Pengpeng carefully engraved more than a dozen seals such as "God bless China", "In the same boat", "Peace is a blessing", "Angel in White Clothes", etc., created a number of calligraphy works such as "Unity of Will" and auctioned these works to raise funds for Hubei's special anti-epidemic funds.
At that time, an overseas "seal carving love affair" formed by Luo Qianqian is still talked about today.
In March 2020, Luo Pengpeng was commissioned to design a red seal for the outer packaging of the medical supplies of the Chinese government to aid France - a phoenix with a beautiful meaning and a dove symbolizing peace flying in the air, protecting the national flags of China and France, and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and the Eiffel Tower in Paris reflect each other. In the center of the seal is engraved two sentences, one is the famous saying of the Sinologist Yu Zhou during the Three Kingdoms period of our country, "A thousand miles are the same, firm in the golden stone", and the other is the famous words of the French literary hero Hugo "Unis nous vaincrons", which means "unity will be victorious".
When the medical supplies of our government's assistance to France arrived at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport one after another, the neat seal pattern on the outer packaging was very eye-catching and immediately attracted attention. The media of the two countries have forwarded the report in many ways, and the French composer Stephen Delpres also specially created the "Chinese National Anthem" Fugue to express gratitude and friendship to the Chinese people.
Luo Pengpeng wants the world to fall in love with "Chinese Seal", in the long-term lectures and art exchanges abroad, she has never forgotten to promote Chinese seal carving: in 2006, she went to Turin, Italy to hold the "Theme Exhibition of Chinese Indian Culture and Art", in 2008, she planned and designed "Jinshi Yongshou - China's First Shoushan Stone Seal Carving Art Exhibition" at the Osaka Art Museum in Japan, and in 2012, she held Luo Qianpeng's personal art exhibition "The World of 'Chinese Seal'"... It turns out that art has no borders, and the appeal of art is interconnected internationally.
Innovation, into the spirit and color of the times
Seal engraving originated more than 3,000 years ago in the Yin Shang era and flourished in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. In ancient times, the two river valleys, the Indus river basin, the Euphrates river basin and other places where human civilization first appeared have also found artifacts that are very similar to seals in shape and purpose, and are engraved with words, figures and marks.
Luo Qianpeng said: "These artifacts found in other ancient civilizations can only be used as a historical record at present. Now similar to the 'Chinese seal' is the clan emblem used by Europeans. However, only the 'Chinese Seal' has survived to this day and is used in real life. ”
2008 was an unforgettable year for Luo Qianqian.
This year, the emblem of the Beijing Olympic Games made the world aware of the "Chinese Seal".
In September of the same year, the China Academy of Art, china seal engraving art institute, together with Xiling Printing Society, declared "Chinese seal engraving" to the United Nations as a representative work of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
As the person in charge of the application project, Luo Qianqian, from organizing the application team, writing the declaration text and video script, connecting with various seal engraving groups across the country, etc., everything is planned and implemented by her as a whole. The project application work only has more than 10 days of preparation time, and the process is extremely arduous. For example, the Restriction in English - the purpose of "application" must be controlled within 200 words in the expression, and one more cannot be done. The Chinese expression seal engraving can be said to be "a thousand worlds between square inches", but in English it is necessary to say a lot.
Luo Qianpeng remembered that on the day the declaration work was completed, she finally returned home after four days and four nights without rest. However, she couldn't find her way home while driving, and went back and forth many times, and finally had to park her car on the side of the road and slept until 6 o'clock the next morning before waking up...
With the joint efforts of everyone, a year later, the good news came. On 30 September 2009, UNESCO inscribed the "Seal Of China" on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This has greatly enhanced the international popularity of Chinese seal engraving, opened up a new vision in the hearts of people in the world, and had a great impact on the development of seal engraving art.
On the one hand, guarding the traditions left by the ancestors, on the other hand, Luo Qianpeng began to think about how the ancient art of seal carving would transform in the context of the new era.
Since ancient times, China's traditional culture has a strong sense of integration, there are paintings in poetry, and there are poems in paintings. From ancient times to the present, practicality and artistry have always coexisted. With the change of the times, the practicality gradually decreased, how to make the seal engraving art have a broader living space?
In recent years, Luo Qianpeng has tried to combine the art of seal carving with real life, planning bookstore-style exhibitions, courtyard-style exhibitions, and museum-style exhibitions, printing seal engravings on teapots, porcelain, stamps, and buildings, showing the charm of Chinese seal carving art in a novel form, and promoting "Chinese seal" from the field of art appreciation into the lives of modern people.
Luo Qianpeng believes that to study traditional Chinese culture, we must have the spirit of adhering to it, rooted in tradition and not limited to tradition, we must integrate excellent traditional culture into the spirit and color of the new era, "enter the ancient and out of the new" and "push out the old and out of the new", this is our strongest cultural self-confidence and cultural consciousness.
Persistent, will try to do it all the time
On the certificate of the annual good proposal of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, there is a seal engraved seal logo. This seal is from the hand of Luo Qianqian, the printing material is made of cinnabar frozen leaf wax stone, and the button is made of auspicious ancient beast button.
In 2018, Luo Pengpeng became a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and she combined her performance with her own business, and repeatedly wrote proposals calling for the sealing profession to be set as an independent discipline.
Luo Qianpeng said that seal engraving contains China's thousands of years of politics, economy, culture and even literature, history, philosophy and philology, philology, exegesis, collection, calligraphy, materials and seal engraving techniques and other learning, but most of them have calligraphy and seal engraving majors in colleges and universities, calligraphy and seal engraving are tied to each other, limiting their respective development. Some calligraphy and seal engraving majors in 80% of the courses are calligraphy, a year only two months to talk about seal engraving, such a status quo can not meet the needs of today's vigorous promotion and inheritance of China's excellent traditional culture, the construction of socialist cultural power.
Therefore, she called for in the proposal that in institutions that have the conditions and do not yet have the discipline of calligraphy and seal engraving, they can first open professional courses in seal engraving art, and then gradually establish disciplines. For colleges and universities that already have a major in calligraphy or calligraphy and seal engraving, the "seal engraving art" major will be separated from the calligraphy major, and a separate seal engraving discipline will be set up, which will improve and develop each and support the upgrading of the calligraphy discipline. In addition, experts should be organized to compile textbooks on seal engraving art in colleges and universities, and the employment of master's and doctoral students in independent disciplines of seal engraving art should be attached to and cared for at the national level.
She also called for the creation of the "Chinese Seal Carving Festival", so that the art of seal carving will become more and more popular with the Festival of Chinese New Year customs.
"I have appealed many times over the years, and the relevant responsible comrades of the Ministry of Education have communicated with me in detail, and I believe that there will be substantial progress in the near future." Luo Qianqian said.
Luo Qianqian's persistence also allowed her to do a major event related to the inheritance and development of seal engraving art——
In 2005, Luo Washu was transferred to the China Academy of Arts. Under the guidance of the China Academy of Art, the China Seal Engraving Art Research Center was first established, and then in June 2006, the only national academy institution in China with the research and creation of seal engraving art as the core was established, the China Seal Engraving Art Academy, with Luo Pengpeng as the executive vice president. In 2007, under the care and support of the China Academy of Arts, Luo Pengpeng declared the country's first master of art program in seal engraving through complicated data reserves, and in 2015, the first doctoral program in seal engraving art was set up in China, and Luo Pengpeng became China's first master tutor and doctoral supervisor of seal engraving art.
Luo Qianqian's career and even life are tightly "bound" to the seal carving. In fact, no one asked Luo Qianqian to do these things. She said: "Fate has put me in this business, so I will try to keep doing it and do it well!" Give yourself an account. ”
Source: People's Political Consultative Conference Daily (08th edition, January 11, 2022)
Reporter: Liu Tong
Layout Editor: Rowey
New Media Editor: Xue Jing
Review: Jiajia Zhou