Shu Tong (November 25, 1905 – May 27, 1998) joined the Communist Party of China in 1926. Shu Tong is the successor and pioneer of Chinese calligraphy, one of the founders and the first chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, the second and third honorary chairmen, and an honorary member of the Chinese Federation of Culture and Art Circles. He is a member of the 8th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, a member of the 12th Central Advisory Committee, a specially invited representative of the 13th, 14th and 15th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, a deputy to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd National People's Congress, and a member of the Standing Committee of the 5th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. In 1988 he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Red Star, 1st class.
Shu Tong once systematically visited ancient inscriptions, learning from famous masters such as Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan, He Shaoji, etc., but the one he admired the most was Yan Zhenqing, because "the first is a Qing official, and the second is upright in nature." In his more than 90 years of life, Shu Tong has always taken Yan Zhenqing as his life example, and turned his "integrity" into his life and his calligraphy art, allowing fate to fluctuate with the tide of the times without changing his original intention and loyalty to the party and the country. Shu Tong's daughter, Shu Junjun, summed it up in an interview: "My father's life was a life of revolution and calligraphy."
Shu Tong has been immersed in the sea of ink for more than 80 years, and it has been like a day for decades. He always emphasized that learning calligraphy should not only "follow the door", but also "break the door", and "break the door" should be the goal pursued by the learner. In the specific practice of calligraphy, he follows this understanding, learns from the ancient but not the ancient, learns from others, and boldly seeks change. As the calligrapher Mr. Shen Peng said, "Shu Ti has a strong monumental meaning, the style of participating in the post, the vigor and vigor without losing the slackness, the norm is full of freedom, the muscles and bones are calm, and the attitude is superb." ”
Since 1930, when he was assigned to the Political Department of the Red Fourth Army as a secretary, Shu Tong's calligraphy talent and ambition to serve the country have been organically integrated and fully displayed. Through Chairman Mao Zedong's couplets and calligraphy works, he realized that calligraphy could be used as a weapon to boost morale and destroy the enemy, so he took the initiative to join the ranks of writing slogans. He was also praised by Chairman Mao as "a calligrapher on horseback" and "a pen in the party", and asked him to inscribe the name of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University.
After the 70s of the 20th century, Shutong calligraphy became the first calligraphy art font in the Chinese calligraphy circle to enter the computer word processing system with its original calligraphy. This may not be the original intention of Mr. Wang's lifelong pursuit, but it is the natural need of social development, reflecting the unique artistic value of "Shu Ti" calligraphy and the strong spirit of advancing with the times. Shu Tong is famous at home and abroad for his "Shu Ti", and has also become a veritable successor and pioneer of Chinese calligraphy.