▲ Rong Geng in his later years
▲ Rong Geng in his youth
Rong Geng (1894-1983), formerly known as Rong Zhaogeng, Character Xibai, Trumpet Song Zhai, a native of Dongguan, Guangdong, archaeologist, paleographer, collector of cultural relics, calligraphy and painting seal engraver. As one of the founders of Chinese paleography in the 20th century, he was full of learning, ancient script research, seal engraving, calligraphy, painting, all of which were knowledgeable; as a collector, he poured out his family wealth as a scholar to preserve a large number of precious national treasures. His whole life was full of wisdom and spiritual brilliance.
▲The newspaper clippings posted by Rong Geng in Beiping's diary
Rong Geng posted two newspaper clippings of "Shi Bao" in his Beiping diary, one was "Scholar's Interview With Rong Xibai" published on May 26, 1940, and the other was "Character History Rong Xibai" published on March 27 and 28, 1941, and the author was Hou Shaojun. The article describes Rong Geng as "famous in Hainei for his epigraphy", introducing his early experiences and recent works on ancient scripts, bronzes, inscriptions, calligraphy and painting. Hou Shaojun praised Rong Geng, writing: "(Rong Geng) no matter which kind of scholarship he studies, he has a very sincere attitude, and he cannot relax at all. "Although he has such a great reputation, he is still rough and light-hearted, and his appearance is still frugal." This is the so-called 'Golden Heart Without a Crown'. ”
▲ The record of Rong Geng's self-evaluation in Beiping's diary
Why can Rong Geng have such outstanding academic achievements? The answer may be found in the diary of December 25, 1940. He once wrote such a humble and confident sentence: "With sharp eyes and big eyes, I am not as good as Guo Moruo." Non-xuan thoughts, left and right, I am not as good as Tang Lan. Chewing words, fine needles and dense wisps, I am better than the province. Oracle bone seal, no body and no work, I am better than Shang Chengzuo. Writing a book, the text does not add points, I am not as good as Wu Qichang. If you persevere and get the most, then none of the other five seem to be as good as me. Obviously, Rong Geng believes that compared with others, his biggest advantage is perseverance. It is true that these four words are exactly the portrayal of Mr. Wang's spirit of governance, and they are also the motto he has practiced all his life.
▲Statue of young and middle-aged Rong Geng in the former residence of Rong Geng
Of course, whose youth is not confused, whose youth is not enthusiastic, no one's success is for no reason. Writer Liu Qing once said: "Although the road of life is long, there are often only a few steps at the critical point, especially when people are young. No one's life path is straight, there is no fork, such as political forks, career forks, personal life forks, you take a wrong step, you can affect a period of life, you can also affect a lifetime. This sentence is applied to the academic master Rong Geng, which is obviously very appropriate. He was born into a family of scholars, but he lost his father at an early age and lost himself for a time, but under the accumulation of family learning, under the painstaking and lonely knowledge of his mother, under the diligent teachings of his uncle, he was determined to write ancient characters, and finally passed from Zhiting Street to Peking University, achieving a generation of academics.
Based on family learning: "Generations of books are fragrant, enough to boast Lu Li"
Speaking of Rong Geng, it seems that we have to start from No. 2, Lane 8, Zhiting Street, Guancheng. This is the place where Rong Geng lived and studied in his youth, which opened the first door for his subsequent life and laid the foundation of cultural heritage; and it seems to start from his study in the north in 1922, when 27-year-old Rong Geng, as a middle school student, held the first draft of the "Jin Wen Compilation" to ask Luo Zhenyu, was recommended by Luo to enter the graduate school of Peking University, opened the road of modern paleography research, and gradually reached the peak of his academic life. Rong Geng was born and grew up in Dongguan, and his employment and education began in Dongguan. Dongguan has had an important impact on Rong Geng's learning and art in terms of geography, kinship and karma. Rong Geng's days and nights in Dongguan, especially between 1917 and 1922, while teaching to subsidize his family, he devoted himself to writing the "Golden Wen Compilation", and completed the first draft of the "Golden Wen Compilation" in 5 years, opening a new starting point for his life's work.
▲ Manuscript of the "Jin Wen Bian"
The reporter turned from Zhenhua Road into Zhiting Street, where diners at the long-established rib restaurant were bustling with diners, and fireworks steamed on the kitchen stove. A few steps further inside, it was a quiet place, as if it were a world away. Rong Geng's former residence is hidden at No. 2, Lane 8, Zhiting Street. It is said that there are two theories about the naming of Zhiting Street: one is that there are post stations here in the Ming Dynasty, there are pavilions in the post stations, the holy will comes to Guanguan, and the county orders out of the Ying'en City Gate to receive the will here; the other is that Lin Pufeng, a qing dynasty attendant, asked for leave to return to his hometown to visit the tomb, the emperor gave him a return to the field, and Lin Xueshi received the will at the entrance of the street. Afterwards, Yousi built a pavilion on the spot to favor Emperor Zhi. On August 6, the twentieth year of Qing Guangxu, Rong Geng was born here.
Today's former residence is a small Qing Dynasty house with the style of "three rooms and two corridors", with a sliding door, a green brick wall, a Manchurian window... The interior of the house is full of unique styles of Lingnan architecture. Rong Geng's former residence is a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit, and it is also a "holy place of books" for the People of Guan. Because here also out of the paleographer Rong Geng, philosophical historian Rong Zhaozu, Jinshi catalog scholar Rong Yuan and several other scholars, carrying their brothers and sisters to govern the youth inspirational story...
▲Rong Geng's former residence
Rong Geng's former residence looks like old, and various decorations try to restore the life trajectory of Rong Geng's brothers and sisters in that year. The exhibition boards and writings scattered throughout the house tell visitors about their lives and their family's bookish context, which is enviable. Dongguan Rongshi was a family of eunuchs in the late Qing Dynasty, Gaozu Rong Tinghua, the official to Changle inspector; grandfather Rong Heling, Tongzhi second year (1863) Zhongjinshi, in charge of Dongguan Shilong Longxi Academy, Shunde Fengshan Academy for more than ten years, the people are extremely popular; father Rong Zuogong was a Gongsheng in 1897; from Shu Rong Zu Chun was good at painting flowers and birds, was a disciple of Julian, and his painting art enjoyed a high reputation in Lingnan. Not only that, but his maternal grandfather Deng Rongjing was also a jinshi, who served as the chief of Guangya Academy (the predecessor of guangya middle school in Guangzhou), rich in collection, and proficient in seal carving. His fourth uncle Deng Erya is a famous calligrapher and seal engraver in modern Guangdong, and Rong Geng began to learn "Shuowen" with his fourth uncle Deng Eryazhi at the age of 15, igniting an interest in epigraphy.
▲The outer wall of Rong Geng's former residence
For the background of his own book Xiang mendi, Rong Geng once wrote in "My Memories": "In the full two hundred and ninety-six years, the people in the imperial examination were like the morning star in my county, and my family could hang the plaque of 'Father and Son Kejia', and there were still some years before and after the Kejia, and the people who attached the offerings, the 'generation of books' was more enough to boast about LuLi. ”
Dongguan is famous for its international manufacturing city, but also a lingnan ancient yi where humanities gather, is an important origin of Lingnan civilization, the beginning of modern Chinese history, literati and talents. Mr. Rong Geng was born and grew up in Dongguan, and his study of karma began in Dongguan, where he had already deeply studied gold stones, calligraphy and painting, and seal carving, especially the first draft of his famous work "Jin Wen Bian" was completed in Dongguan, opening his academic and artistic road. It can be said that Dongguan has had an important impact on Mr. Rong Geng's governance and art in terms of geography, kinship and karma.
Rong Mother's Fourth Migration: "Yu Zhi is not finally a degenerate, and the Mother's Teaching is also"
Rong Geng entered school at the age of 6, and at the age of twelve or thirteen, he was familiar with the history of the Bible, and his children lived a carefree life. However, with the death of his grandfather Rong Heling, the family road began to fall, and after the death of his father Rong Zuogong, it was even worse, and the family could only rely on his uncle Rong Zuoqiu and his second uncle Deng Rulin to receive help, as well as the bitter support of his mother Deng Qiongyan. Deng Qiongyan is the third daughter of Deng Rongjing, and the day of birth is when Deng Rongjing points out that Hanlin went to Qionglin Feast, hence the name. Deng Rongjing is quite enlightened, and Deng Qiongyan has read poetry since childhood, knows etiquette, is reasonable, and has considerable insight. In particular, the education of six children is of great importance.
After the death of her husband, Deng Qiongyan was young and widowed, and there were many children, but no matter the ups and downs of the times or the hardships of life, she gritted her teeth and endured, raised her six children to adulthood, and trained them to become talents. Rong Geng commented on his mother in the "Family Biography of this Branch": "The waiter and the godson, extremely prepared for hard work, diligent and strict, the children are nurtured, and they all grow up." Rong Geng once said in his self-statement: He is dull in temperament but has a wide range of interests, especially fascinated by novels and seal engraving. But there are many problems in the body, especially when his father died at the age of 15, the family road is backward, and he once lost himself. Therefore, for the education of children, from the following year, Deng Qiongyan began the "Four Migrations of Rong Mother", just like the modern version of "MengMu Three Migrations".
▲ Introduction panel of young Rong Geng and his mother Deng Qiongyan in the former residence of Rong Geng
Rong Zhaozu has an account of his mother's several relocations in "My Family Lineage and Childhood": in 1909, the whole family moved to Guangzhou, in order to allow their children to read the Guangzhou Qiming Higher Primary School taught by his younger brother Deng Erya; in 1911, he moved to rong's family school in Jufan Street, this year Rong Geng was admitted to the Higher Normal High School, Rong Zhaoxin read the Jiaozhong Normal School, and Rong Zhaozu entered the Jiaozhong Normal School. After the Xinhai Revolution in 1912, he moved back to the Rong family ancestral house in Dongguan, asked an old Xiucai to teach at home, and in 1913 Rong Zhaozu was admitted to Dongguan Middle School, and Rong Geng and Rong Zhaoxin also inserted dongguan middle school, in order to facilitate their children's schooling, they moved to near Dongguan Middle School.
In 1916, Rong Geng graduated from Dongguan Middle School, and his younger brother Rong Zhaoxin died ill again... It struck him hard. As the eldest son in the family, Rong Geng felt the responsibility to share the family responsibilities, and he seemed to have no way out, so he gave up on himself and became infected with many bad habits. In the preface to the "Ode to Jai Ji Jin", he confessed: Weak crowns are addicted to gambling, and the genus of cards, heavenly nines, sparrows, dice, and chess is not happy... The mother knows, blames, repents, repents, and repeats. Yu Zhi is not finally a fallen, and the Mother's Religion is also...
▲ In 1925, Rong Geng took a photo with his mother and third brother in Beihai Park
Under the repeated consolation and persuasion of Deng Qiongyan, Rong Geng finally "turned back to the prodigal son", cleaned himself up again, and constantly found things for himself to do, such as watching and discussing calligraphy and painting with his second uncle Deng Rulin and his cousin Deng Maoxun, learning seal carving with his fourth uncle Deng Erya, learning to paint with uncle Rong Zuchun, or reading foreign literature translated by Lin Shu in Chinese. Especially under the encouragement and guidance of Deng Erya, Rong Geng, who was already interested in seal carving, began to learn the ancient script of Jinshi, which opened the academic path of ancient script research.
Deng Qiongyan's influence on Rong Geng's brothers and sisters was huge, and the payment was also huge, and it was under her painstaking cultivation that she later became the talents of Rong Geng's brothers and sisters and contributed to society. In 1930, Deng Qiongyan died, and Rong Gengsi and his mother were deeply saddened. In his preface to the Catalogue of the Hymn Jai Ji Jin, he said: "A loving mother sees her back and does not want to be nurtured, so those who repay their mother should only strive to learn from themselves and not insult their first ears." ”
The fourth uncle taught: "The aspiration of the ancient Chinese characters in the world"
In 1922, before going north to study with the "Jin Wen Compilation", Rong Geng had already studied gold stones, calligraphy and painting, and seal carvings in Dongguan. Among them, the art of calligraphy and painting was trained by Shu Rongzu chun, the ancestor of the Lingnan school of painting, Ju Lian, the ancestor of the Lingnan school, and paleography and seal engraving were taught by the fourth uncle Deng Erya, and under the guidance of Deng Erya, he completed the first draft of his famous work "Jin Wen Bian" and opened his academic and artistic path.
Among them, Deng Erya, who is 11 years older than Rong Geng, is the most affectionate and has the greatest influence on Rong Geng's brothers and sisters. Deng Erya was well educated, literate, historical and philosophical, and studied in Japan as a young man, studying fine arts. He is famous in Lingnan for his golden stones and calligraphy, and in calligraphy, Gong Seal Li, Gang Jian Wanna, engraved in the south has a good reputation, and his name was shocked. Rong Geng once described Dun Erya as follows: "Uncle Shi is amiable, he has not tasted his anger, and his eloquence is not hindered..."
▲ Deng Erya's introduction panel in Rong Geng's former residence
As early as 1909, when Deng Qiongyan's family moved to Guangzhou, Deng Erya had guided the three Rong Geng brothers in literature, calligraphy and seal engraving. In 1913, when Rong Geng's family moved to the vicinity of Dongguan Middle School, Deng Erya also resigned from Guangzhou to teach in Guanguan and lived in Rong Geng's house. According to Rong Geng's own account, several brothers and sisters gathered around the square table with their uncles every day after class, "or practice seals, or engrave seals, and gold stone books are placed on all sides, and their hearts are happy." Rong Zhaozu also wrote in "My Family Lineage and Childhood": "Soon after the eldest brother (Rong Geng), he created the "Jin Wen Compilation" with the fourth uncle; the second brother (Rong Zhaoxin) was called an engraver in addition to calligraphy; I studied poetry with the fourth uncle, which was the basis for teaching literature in the future. This is all the benefit of moving to a near secondary school and a home nearby. ”
Rong Geng's interest in Jinshi ancient script increased greatly while studying with Deng Erya, and in 1917, he developed the ambition and idea of several brothers and sisters to supplement Wu Dayi's "Shuowen Ancient Supplement". The concept includes the golden text, the oracle bone script, the stone drum text, the seal seal mud text, and the spring coin text, and is interpreted for examination. But as his younger siblings went to school, he had to change his plans and decide to do it himself, starting with Jin Wen. Therefore, under the guidance of Deng Erya, he conducted research based on the materials he possessed and began to compile the "Golden Text".
▲ Deng Erya used the Chinese sentences of Li Qingzhao's "Golden Stone Record" as Rong Gengzhi's seal to encourage him to aspire to the study of paleography
In order to encourage Rong Geng, Deng Erya also engraved a sentence from Li Qingzhao's "Preface to the Golden Stone Record": "There are rice (vegetables), clothing (綀), Qiong (poor) distant areas, and the aspirations of the ancient Chinese characters in the world" to him, helping him collect a lot of rare materials. Rong Geng also lived up to expectations, and during the five years, he did not give up day and night to devote himself to compiling the "Golden Text". During this period, in order to help his family, he also went to Dongguan Middle School to teach the "Text Source Flow" class. In 1922, the first draft of the "Golden Stone Compilation" began to take shape.
▲ Manuscript of the first draft of the "Jin Wen Bian"
In May 1922, Rong Zhaozu wanted to go north to apply for Peking University, Rong Geng walked with him, and Deng Eryato's friend wrote to Luo Zhenyu to recommend Rong Geng, once again paving the way for Rong Geng's academic life. Rong Zhaozu wrote in "My Family Lineage and Childhood": "When we passed through Tianjin, a friend of the fourth uncle (Deng Erya) wrote a letter introducing the eldest brother to luo Zhenyu and asking Luo Zhenyu for advice in the "Golden Stone Compilation". At that time, Luo Zhenyu was famous all over the world, and he was both the first scholar to make major progress in oracle bone research and a connoisseur. When he looked at the "Jin Wen Compilation", he was very appreciative, believing that although there had always been scholars studying ancient seals since the Eastern Han Dynasty Xu Shen's "Shuowen", and there was no systematic book, Rong Geng did what he wanted to do but had never done. He repeatedly told Rong Geng to "make sure he succeeds", and at the same time wrote a letter recommending Rong Geng to Professor Ma Heng of Peking University, praising him for "curing ancient Jinwen, but also cultivating". After Ma Heng saw the first draft of Rong Geng's "Jin Wen Compilation", he directly admitted Rong Geng, who only had a middle school education, as a graduate student of the Institute of Chinese Studies of Peking University.
▲Luo Zhenyu
Luo Zhenyu also wrote a letter of introduction to Rong Geng, introducing him to Wang Guowei. Wang Rong and wang Rong saw each other as before, and Wang Guowei not only praised the "Jin Wen Compilation", but also actively planned to print and publish it with Luo Zhenyu and others. The first edition of the Jin Wen Bian has a total of six prefaces, which is the largest of all editions, in addition to Rong Geng's self-preface, there are prefaces "blessings" of luo zhenyu, Wang Guowei, Ma Heng, Deng Erya, and Shen Jianshi, and several prefaces show their profound academic origins.
▲ The first edition of the "Jin Wen Bian" book shadow
Among them, his fourth uncle Deng Erya praised Rong Gengzhi in the preface to the "Golden Stone Compilation" for his diligence and hard work, "Rong's eldest nephew Xi Bai is tireless in this, it is difficult to analyze questions, and it is too time to obey." Because of the slight precision of recalling the old manuscript, the eleventh and the second are paid, and the naixi white perseverance, day and night, the school, the superimposed gain, the manuscript is like a cow's loin." The smooth publication of the "Jin Wen Bian" made Rong Geng famous in one fell swoop and embarked on a new starting point for his life's career. He later published more than 30 academic monographs, "Jin Wen Compilation" and "Shang Zhou Yi Instrument Examination" are particularly respected by domestic and foreign academic circles, which are essential books for scholars of paleography and bronze ware research.
▲ Deng Erya wrote the preface to the "Jin Wen Bian"
Text/Reporter Shen Hanyan
Photo/Reporter Shen Hanyan, Dongguan Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department courtesy of the picture