In zodiac culture, the dog is a model of loyalty. It is regarded by the people as a symbol of loyalty and righteousness. The dog is humane, responsive, loyal to its duties, poor and poor without abandonment, the enemy does not retreat, and the family is unexpectedly guarded, and its behavior cannot but arouse people's love and respect.
The creative idea of "Hundred Dogs and Good Fortune" was gradually formed in this zhongyi cultural background and deep thinking about it.
Zou Dezhong, calligrapher and director of the China Book Association
Sun Yiqing, calligrapher, poet, former deputy secretary-general of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and former director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage
The shape of the Xiao Dog Seal is in the form of a Northern Zhou half-tile to reflect the ancient cultural origin of the dog-human relationship. The inclusion of china's earliest single painting, the First Ring, in the half-tile-shaped printing stone is intended to infiltrate the earliest aesthetic ideas of the nation. Xiao Dog stands in front of the door in order to set off the artistic atmosphere of firmness and loyalty to duty, and to make the image of Xiao Dog's loyalty in the Chinese nation more profound and perfect.
Calligrapher Wang Shulan inscription
Artist and calligrapher Chen Zonghuang
Sun Yiqing, former director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage
The shaping of Xiao Dog's shape, whether it is yin or yang, is concisely summarized, which is expressed as a general trend in the form of silhouettes, without embellishment, mainly showing its mood. In addition to the tile ornamentation on the printing stone, most of them are beautiful patterns absorbed from ancient pottery and copper mirrors, so that there are small squares in the large circle, small squares and large circles, square circles are contrasted, coordinated and mutually lined, and stable in instability; with orderly collocation, virtual and real echoes, to achieve unity in disunity.
Northwest "Flower King" Zhu Zhonglu inscription
Scholar, Professor of Northwest Normal University, Head of Chinese Department, Doctoral Supervisor Zhao Kuifu (first from left)
Hu Jigao, an expert of the China Institute of Science and Technology for the Protection of Cultural Relics and a member of the Science and Technology Committee of the Ministry of Culture of China
A vigilant dog with upright ears and a strong tail on the stone; a calm dog that sits quietly on the ground and looks back and contemplates; a dog that barks with both feet side by side; a keen dog that looks up from afar and listens to the eight directions; a brave dog that swoops forward and is as strong as a bamboo; a dog with a neck backwards and a godly speed dog whose feet are in the air... There are many forms, almost a sense of imminent coming out, and each print strives to become a poetic independent picture.
Lou Puyi, art educator, professor of Northwest Institute for Nationalities, and oil painter
Wang Jucai, secretary of the party group of the China Writers Association
Through one independent seal after another, we try to vividly reflect one after another the humanity we want to see. Man, the natural world and the animal kingdom look at each other in a harmonious atmosphere, wash each other, purify their own souls, and shape the unique soul of our Chinese nation.
In the process of shaping these dog prints, our thoughts also melted into the story of the patriotic general Liu Yongfu's beloved dog, Black Tiger, who saved his master in Jieshi Town, Lufeng County, Guangdong Province; the good story of the patriotic general Deng Shichang's sun dog who saved the savior several times during the Sino-Japanese War; the "rescue dog" Balley, who rescued more than 40 passengers in an avalanche in France; and the statue of the Tokyo dog in Japan, all of which embody "righteousness" and "loyalty". Of course, the "loyalty" of the righteous dog does not mean submission and blind movement, and no matter what time it is, it always faces the questions of survival, independence, and justice.
For decades, this spirit of Xiao Dog has inspired us, so that we gradually have a sincerity, a self-confidence, and the exploration of zodiac culture makes us both more "loyal" and sincere in artistic pursuits.
Author: Chen Guanying, Zhang Weiping
Editor: Wang Xiaojun