"I have known Mr. Liu Guoliang for a long time. Five years ago, he approached me, hoping that the sport he represented could be combined with the bronze carving craft that I am good at, but I never had the opportunity. Zhu Bingren, a master of Chinese arts and crafts, recalled: "Mr. Liu Guoliang's wish is that Chinese can design and produce a trophy for the world sports event in which they participate. He has always kept this wish in his heart, and this ITTF Mixed Team World Cup finally has this opportunity. ”
Table tennis can be called the representative of China's sports industry, and Liu Guoliang is an important symbol of Chinese table tennis. He has personally experienced or led the team to participate in countless international competitions, and won one international medal after another, but he has never been able to meet the medals designed by the Chinese.
The 2023 Chengdu Mixed Team World Cup was held as scheduled, and the Chinese finally had the opportunity to create an international trophy named by the Chinese.
After careful consideration, the superior leaders decided to hand over this important task to the bronze carving master Zhu Bingren.
Excited and nervous, Zhu Bingren quickly set the tone for the trophy – highlighting Chinese culture.
Zhu Bingren is an artist with feelings, as the founder of the "new school of molten reality", he will be the inheritance of the "Zhufu copper art" and modern science and technology perfect integration, his "Lingyin Bronze Palace" up to 12.6 meters, created a Guinness World Record, "Hangzhou Leifeng Pagoda" is the first color bronze pagoda in China, "Guilin Copper Pagoda" is China's first underwater copper pagoda.
Master Zhu Bingren, with a little shot, can create a classic. His works are not only cultural relics and landmarks in many cities, but also have considerable collection value.
"Bamboo Newspaper Peace, Appreciation of History" is displayed in the office building of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee; "Ten Thousand Springs Return to the Sea, Fragrance from Far Away" is permanently collected by the Boao Forum for Asia; and "A Hundred Flowers Bloom" is collected by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
In museums in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Singapore, Zhu Bingren's works can also be seen everywhere.
Master Zhu Bingren was selected as one of the 100 candidates for the 2021 "China Intangible Cultural Heritage Person of the Year", and in March 2022, he was included in the list of 30 nominees for the "2021 China Intangible Cultural Heritage Person of the Year".
In June 2022, the 2021 "China Intangible Cultural Heritage Nominee of the Year" can be called a multi-awarded. Shao Dazhen, a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, commented: "Zhu Bingren's copper art creation makes China and the world proud to have him. ”
A true master, always with an apprentice's heart, Zhu Bingren traveled from Hangzhou to Beijing at the age of 79 to visit the medals of previous competitions and draw inspiration from them.
"After a few days in the capital, I had the privilege of holding some trophies in my hands, and I closed my eyes and experienced their design language and their exquisite craftsmanship. Zhu Bingren said.
After careful consideration, Zhu Bingren decided to create a perfect trophy weighing 8 kilograms and 75 centimeters high, so that the elements and weight and size fit together.
When naming it, Zhu Bingren took into account the influence of table tennis in China and the characteristics of gender equality, diversity, collaboration, team spirit and friendly exchanges between Eastern and Western sports cultures, and finally chose the "Guoliang Solin Cup".
Zhu Bingren's proposal, after being submitted to the World Table Tennis Federation, was quickly replied positively.
Zhu Bingren said proudly: "Mr. Liu Guoliang is Chinese, and I think the trophy named after the Chinese is of great historical significance in the world. ”
Every design of the "Guoliang Solin Cup" echoes the theme of the conference.
First of all, the overall design inspiration of the trophy comes from the athletic power of table tennis.
Secondly, Zhu Bingren is well aware of the sweat and dedication of the athletes off the field and the hard work and tenacity on the field, so the ball of the main body of the trophy adopts the forging process, which seems to be a smooth whole, but it is actually made of tens of thousands of hammers and chisels, which means "thousands of hammers".
Again, the "angel wings" lines on both sides of the trophy choose Zhu Bingren's original "molten copper" process. This technique is unpredictable, and it corresponds to the rapid change of the game situation. The lines as a whole are bottom-up, implying the spirit of hard work and high-spirited sportsmanship.
This shape indicates that the athletes spread their wings and soar.
Finally, the trophy has a square base, which symbolizes stability and represents the solid foundation of table tennis.
The unique design concept of the "Guoliang Solin Cup" and the handicraft with Chinese characteristics gave the event a touch of color.
China is transforming from a "sports power" to a "sports power", and at this critical moment, the first Chinese designed trophy was born, which shows China's success in sports reform and proves China's influence in the world sports arena.
At the same time, the "Guoliang Solin Cup" is also the embodiment of China's cultural power. Chinese elements, through international competitions to the world, let the world understand China, love China, as Zhu Bingren expected: "Through this 'Guoliang Solin Cup', we can spread the development of our bronze carving skills and China's intangible cultural heritage to all parts of the world." ”
The "Guoliang Solin Cup" is an affirmation and encouragement to Chinese table tennis players and coaches, inspiring them to play at a better level in the international arena and win glory for the country. It is also a kind of inheritance and innovation of Chinese table tennis culture, showing the historical status and cultural influence of Chinese table tennis, and also reflecting the charm and innovation of Chinese traditional crafts.
The significance of this trophy is still transmitting the positive energy of tempering and courage to the society.
For the international sports world, this monument is also of great significance, its emergence has a huge role in promoting the ITTF and the world table tennis movement, providing a new event platform for the development and innovation of table tennis, and also providing an opportunity and challenge for table tennis players to show themselves.