Seals and Their Ancient Language Are a Favorite of Calligrapher Li Jianjun

6 artspecial SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2013 CHINA DAILY Li jianjun writes words from Analects of Confucius. Character of art Seals and their ancient language are a favorite of calligrapher Li Jianjun By ZHAO RUIXUE in Qingdao energy flowing in it. nized by calligraphers and col- Statement on a Military Cam- [email protected] Seal characters were first lectors from all over the world. paign by Zhuge Liang. used in the Qin Dynasty (221- Two of his calligraphy piec- No matter where he trav- 206 BC), so they are very dif- es are in the collection of the Portrait of the artist: els, Li Jianjun’s luggage will ferent from the Chinese char- Shandong Museum and some Li Jianjun was born in Qin- always include a set of writ- acters in use today. have been exhibited in Japan gdao city, Shandong province ing implements---ink brush, “Seal characters are thou- and South Korea. in 1957. He is a member of the inkstone, inkstick and Xuan sands of years old, so learning In addition, more than a Chinese Calligraphers Asso- paper---obviously writing has them is almost like learning hundred of his works have ciation and of the council for been integrated into his life. another language,” Li said. been given to government Shandong the Calligraphers “Writing purifies people’s To practice the art, Li search- officials and artists from the Association. Li is also the hon- hearts and it has become an es through every single piece of United States, Italy, Switzer- orary president of the Shan- indispensable practice in my famous seal script in Chinese land, Greece, South Korea and dong News Artists Association. life,” says Li who looks fit and history and studies it carefully. Japan. younger than his late 50s. I have written more than Former Japanese Prime A full set of calligraphy 10,000 seal characters in total,” Minister Fukuda Yasuo award- implements — writing brush, Li said. ed Li a prize for Confucius Cal- ink stone and rice paper — is The ancient scripts Li has ligraphy to honor his effort to placed neatly in Li Jianjun’s lug- learned from range from the promote the great teacher’s gage whenever sets out on his Western and Eastern Zhou thought through calligraphy. Writing calligraphy travels. dynasties (c.11th century-256 Most content of Li’s work is can purify the heart, Li said no matter where he BC) to the Ming and Qing the wisdom from Chinese clas- and it is a way to goes, he always carries the tools dynasties (1368-1911), includ- sics including the Analects of of his art with him. ing copies of inscriptions from Confucius and the I Ching. promote Chinese Now deputy director of the ancient artifacts such as the With their theme of Confu- traditional culture to Shandong Provincial Publicity ‘ Duke Mao Tripod, a bronze cius ideas, Li’s works have won ‘ the world.” Department, Li said calligra- kettle on three legs. great popularity in East Asia. phy has long been a central part Li also meets with scholars During his visit to South LI JIANJUN of his life. and professors at the univer- Korea in 2011, the governor of CALLIGRAPHER AND DEP- “Writing calligraphy can sities to learn more about the North Jeolla province showed UTY DIRECTOR OF THE SHANDONG PROVINCIAL purify the heart,” he said. “And ancient characters, but also his appreciation and asked Li to PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT it is a way to promote Chi- studies other calligraphy styles write some of Confucius’ wis- nese traditional culture to the to have a broader view of the dom to reflect the friendship world.” art. between the two countries. Born in 1957, Li was a big “For few hundred times, I And when Li visited Japan fan of calligraphy since he we have practiced the piece Lant- with his colleagues, a Japanese a child. ingji Xu (preface to a collection assemblyman asked him write He practiced calligraphy by of poems) written by Wang some characters to present to a himself and read hundreds of Xizhi (303-361), one of the Japanese school as a gift. related books over the past 40 most well-known calligraphers Li wrote five characters that years. He was already 50 years in Chinese art history,” Li said. he said best express Confucian old when he formed his own Li continues to practice seal philosophy — benevolence, style combining traditional characters for at least couple righteousness, courtesy, wis- elements and his individual hours every day even though dom and trust. character. he is very busy with his work. “Calligraphy is a treasure in He is particularly fascinated On weekends and holidays, Chinese culture,” he said. with seal characters, a type Li stays at home most of the In addition, Li also creates of Chinese calligraphy that is time and practices for a dozen his own versions of Chinese extremely hard to learn. hours without a break. classics such as A Tale of the He said though seal script is The effort has been paid Fountain of the Peach Blossom heavy, it is elegant and has an back. His works are now recog- Spring by Tao Yuanming and One of the poems composed by Mao Zedong, the former Chairman of China. Statement on a military campaign by Zhuge liang. Classicz article is one of Li Jianjun’s favorite. .

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