In the daily social interactions of literati, it is normal to write books to deal with various social relationships or occasions. The well-known scholar Bai Qianshen once said: Any work that is not created for lyrical writing, but is intended to cope with various external social relations, or for the purpose of maintaining friendship and human affection, can be regarded as social works in a broad sense. Social changes have also made the phenomenon of social interaction in literati art more and more significant cultural phenomenon. For the vast majority of non-professional writers, apart from letters and manuscripts, in general, more works are written for socializing than works for pleasure and self-amusement. The difference between Yang Lian and other forms of calligraphy is that the font is large but the number of words is small, and the writing time is relatively small, which makes it the most popular form of social gifts in the Qing Dynasty for socialites, literati and scholars. In the diaries of many literati, he often recorded his calligraphy activities. For example, Gu Wenbin, a great collector of the late Qing Dynasty who was in Ningshaotai Dao, mentioned in his diary: "The members of the Central Committee of the Central Committee have written all the books and letters. Wu Dayi, a collector of gold stones from the Inspector of Hunan, also recorded in a diary: "Draw two handles of fans, write three seal books, and write seal books to three." Recently, the number of book fans has accumulated more and more, and the delay has been delayed for a long time, and relatives and friends are inevitably strange. Because it is determined that several pieces of books must be written every morning and evening, in order to be the meaning of Tao Gongyun. Tang Camel, a famous calligrapher and printer in modern times, wrote more than 30,000 couplets in 6 years. The calligraphy of The Yanglian is responsible for the social function of the literati, whether it is the birthday, the first, the housewarming and other things, it is necessary to give the union to celebrate, and even the title gift is called the social union by the people of the time. It can be seen that the works of Yang Lian became an important means of maintaining interpersonal relations and played a very important role in the social life of the literati in the late Qing Dynasty.
Figure 1 Wu Changshuo Lu Yongyu Le Qiyan Stone Drum Couplet 1918 Length 177.5, Width 45 cm Interpretation Lu Yong zi tian its guide Kong Shuo Fish is happy to swim in the water to swim deep
Wu Changshuo was taught at the gate of Confucianism, and at the age of 22, he was a talented man, and after that, his career was bumpy, serving as a minor official or staff member for more than 30 years. However, as a member of the scholar-doctor, his literati identity had a great sense of identity with the society that was under the framework of traditional culture at that time. Wu Changshuo's travel network during his stay in Shanghai almost covered the late Qing Dynasty widows, Politicians of the Republic of China, business leaders, Liyuan leaders and other elites and celebrities in various industries in Shanghai at that time. In order to organize a strong network of social relations in the exchange of singing and singing, the gift and exchange of works of art is an indispensable link. Looking at the 14 paintings in the collection of Huzhou Museum, 9 of the works have been clearly donated. For example, Wu Changshuo set Ruan carved the Northern Song Dynasty BenShi drum character eight words "Lu Yong from heaven its guide Kong Shuo, fish happy to swim in the water to swim deep" (Figure 1), and his book was given to "Brother Yuequan Ren". "Moon Spring" is a cultural celebrity in Shanghai of the Republic of China Li Zhaosong (1889~?) ), the word Yuequan, Guangdong Xinning people. After returning to China after studying in the United States, he initially became a teacher at Nanyang Public School, a teacher at Fudan Public School, and later served as the deputy consul of the Republic of China government in the Philippines. According to the "Long Compilation of Wu Changshuo's Chronology", Wu Changshuo wrote The League for Li Zhaosong in 1909 (at the age of 66) and 1918 (at the age of 75).
Figure 2 Wu Changshuo Junzi Haonu Eight Words Stone Drum Couplet 1915 Length 171, Width 36 cm Interpretation Of the Gentleman's Quest for Fish Water Forever Good The Lady Kong Le Lu Che An
Another example is the Jiming Tuoshi Drum Eight Words Association "Gentlemen's Quest for Fish and Water Forever Good, and the Daughter Kong Le Lu Cha Suo An" (Figure 2) is the recipient of the gift as "Shaomo Neijiao", and Shaomo is shi qicai and shi is the second son. Shi Wei is the younger brother of Lady Wu Changshuo Shi Jiu. Wuyan Shigu Lian "Lu Bo Frugality and Footwork, Officials Humble and Self-Respecting" (Figure 3) The identity of the recipient "Uncle Yue of Ying" is the uncle of Lady Wu Changshuo. The Seven Words Seal Book Couplet "Yunpai Gukou Immortal Out, Nest Hidden Songjian Luan Fengqi" (Figure 4) was written by Shen Ruilin and Wu Changshuo, and was found in The Stone Fang of Yunchao Mountain, Huzhou. Shen Ruilin was the fourth son of Shen Bingcheng, a Huzhou official and bibliophile of the Governor of Liangjiang. Shen Ruilin and his wife Gong Yunshan are both good at calligraphy and painting. The recipient of the Seven Words Stone Drum Association "Flower Horn Tree Banner Out of the Deep Show, Fish Written in the Bow Guide peace" (Figure 5) is the grandnephew of Wu Xing's last champion Niu Fubao, and is also friends with Wang Zhen. The Seven Words Stone Drum Union "Qiao has a bow and arrow Jane hunter, brown Chen Yi carp knows the fishing boat" (Figure 6) The recipient of the "Si Wei Ren Brother" is Wu Changshuo's long-time hometown friend Cheng Qinxi. It can be seen from this that the trustees of Wu Changshuo's works involve relatives and friends, literati, officials, rich businessmen and other social strata. As a generation of masters who dominate the art world, its circle of communication can be described as very broad.
Figure 3 Wu Changshuo Lu Bo GuanBei Wuyan Stone Drum Couplet 1891 Vertical 122, Width 28 cm Interpretation Text Lu Bo Frugal Foot Official Humble And Honest Self-Respect
Figure 4 Wu Changshuo Yunpai Chao Yin Seven Words Seal Book Couplet 1923 Length 172.5, width 43.5 cm Interpretation Yunpai Valley Mouth Immortal Out Nest Hidden Pine Luan Fengqi
Of course, the popularity of Yanglian calligraphy is also closely related to the large demand for Yuelian in the cultural market of the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. Art has come to the Republic of China, and gradually become more colorful, and yahao calligraphy and painting are no longer the patents of the literati family. As a social and cultural phenomenon with deep folklore, whether it is the title and gift association, the landscape association, or the festival alliance, the wedding and birthday celebration alliance, etc. have been stationed in various scenes of Chinese social life. The development trajectory of the cultural market and the pace of urban civilization echo each other. As the largest city in the Far East after the opening of the port, Shanghai's prosperous economy and active and diverse civic culture have spawned a huge calligraphy and painting market, attracting former Qing dynasty officials and celebrities and literati and inkers from the surrounding areas. At the time of the boom in this calligraphy and painting market, Wu Changshuo officially moved to Shanghai in 1912, and also made his main livelihood with pen and ink Danqing. During his stay in Shanghai, Wu Changshuo participated in and even organized organizations with the nature of industry associations, such as the Yuyuan Calligraphy and Painting Society, the Maritime Inscription Hall, the Chaoshe Society, and the Xiling Printing Society, comprehensively combining art, market and social welfare activities, enhancing his social reputation and status, and broadening the demand channels for his works. Wu Changshuo understands the impact of social demand on the calligraphy and painting market. Once said: Vassals are elegant, and the world is salty and ridiculed. In fact, fengya must not have vassals, otherwise the fengya and the like will inevitably starve to death. In view of the degree of acceptance and recognition of the art market, Wu Changshuo wrote a large number of Calligraphy works of Yanglian. In his later years, he ordered runge many times, among which "癸 ugly runge" (1913), "PropylEne Runge" (1916), and "Gengshen Runge" (1920) all placed the Runge in an important position, and the Runge also increased from three feet three to three feet four and then to three feet six two. The continuous rise of calligraphy and painting also reflects the shortage of Wu Changshuo's works, wu Changshuo once mentioned in a letter with his friend Shen Shiyou: "I am tired of paintings, and I make three pieces a day, about three months to get what I owed last year." Paintings and calligraphy are happy, but they are in a miserable situation, how should the people of the decline deserve it, when Mr. Shiyou taught me. This shows that Wu Changshuo was also tired of him after enjoying the name.
Figure 5 Wu Changshuo Seven Words Stone Drum Couplet in the Flower Horn Fish 1915 Length 136, Width 32.5 cm Interpretation Flower Horn Tree Banner Out of the Deep Show Fish Written in the Bow Guide peace
Figure 6 Wu Changshuo Qiao has a brown Chen Qiyan stone drum couplet 1926 Length 135, width 31.8 cm Interpretation Text Qiao has a bow Yajian hunter Brown Chen Qiyu carp knows the fishing boat
The popularity of Yanglian has enriched the form of calligraphy creation and brought new vitality and vitality to the book world. Since the late Qing Dynasty, all those who can write have been able to write. Wu Changshuo has a very deep traditional cultural foundation, and has a deep understanding of the creation of legal poetry or the collection of monuments and collections of posts, and it can be seen from the large number of Yanglian works that have survived in the world that this art giant has traveled widely throughout his life and his compliance with the leading role of the cultural market. However, Wu Changshuo has always been able to adhere to the spiritual attributes of artistic works and constantly seek breakthroughs in originality, which has made great contributions and influences on the innovation and development of the content of Yanglian art writing and the use of strokes.
Source of the article: "Collector" 201912 issue of "Wu Changshuo Seal Book Discussion"
Author: Shen Jie