CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Friday, May 29, 2020 | 17 LIFE SHANGHAI

Works of famous calligrapher on show

Calligraphy pieces and poems reveal the personality and vision of Zhao Puchu as a patriot, a social activist and a scholar, Zhang Kun reports in Shanghai.

he exhibition, Infinite was his mission in life to serve the details his understanding of Bud­ Compassion: The Calligra­ people and society. dhism and his work promoting reli­ phy of Zhao Puchu, which As early as in 1928, Zhao became gious tolerance and Chinese provides a glimpse into the a leader in Buddhist associations in religious policies; and the last chap­ Zhao played an Tlife of the patriotic religious leader, Shanghai and the Yangtze Delta ter, A Man of Virtue, consists of writ­ opened at Shanghai Museum on regions. In 1938, as a religious lead­ ing that reflects upon his life of important role in May 21, the 20th anniversary of his er and active member of the nation­ selfless contributions and righteous facilitating cultural death. al salvation movement against the conduct. Zhao was president of the Bud­ Japanese invasion, Zhao built a A calligraphy work by Zhao was exchanges between dhist Association of China, a famous home for orphans and refugees of among the exhibits of A Blessing China and Japan.” social activist and a close friend of the war, sheltering up to 500,000 over the Sea: Cultural Relics on Ling Lizhong, head of the the Communist Party of China. He people. Jianzhen and Murals by Higashi­ research center of paintings was also one of the most recognized During this period, he became yama Kaii from Toshodaiji, an exhi­ and calligraphy at Shanghai calligraphers, poets and authors in close friends with members of the bition which concluded at Shanghai Museum China. Communist Party of China, and it Museum on April 5. The exhibition, which ends on was with his help that a large num­ “Zhao played an important role in July 19, features 93 of his works and ber of young refugees joined the facilitating cultural exchanges more than 1.4 million views on is named after Zhao’s study, Wu Jin communist army to fight against the between China and Japan,” Ling Xinhua.net. The museum also Yi Zhai, or Study of Infinite Compas­ Japanese invaders. says. launched its new account on sion. Exhibits include calligraphy “He spent 35 years in Shanghai. It In the 1950s, Zhao sent a statue short­video sharing platform pieces, poems and other documents, was here that he turned into a patriot, of Bhaisajyaguru (the Buddha of Kuaishou. The first livestream by all of which were donated by his a social activist and a scholar. Medicine), which symbolizes the museum featured Shanghai­ family. Because of his deep feelings for the peace and healing, to Japan. The based TV host Cao Kefan introduc­ According to Ling Lizhong, head city of Shanghai, we made the deci­ gesture was reciprocated by the ing a painting from the museum’s of the research center of paintings sion to donate his relics to Shanghai Buddhist community in Japan and collection by Wen Zhengming. and calligraphy at Shanghai Muse­ Museum,” says his niece, Zhao Wen. this started a continuous exchange “The internet has broken down um, Zhao’s calligraphy reflected his According to Yang Zhigang, among the Buddhists of both the limits of time and space and personality and vision as a Buddhist director of Shanghai Museum, a countries. brought to life the cultural relics leader. special exhibition hall will be built Zhao believed that Jianzhen, the on display in the museum,” says “His writing is simple, artless, in the new east wing of the museum monk who made repeated voyages Yang, the director of Shanghai untainted by worldly concerns,” to serve as a permanent display for and eventually took important Bud­ Museum. Ling told China Daily on the open­ Zhao’s relics. dhist classics from China to Japan, Shanghai Museum was one of the ing day. “Shanghai Museum will do its could become a bridge for Sino­Jap­ first large museums to resume oper­ “The unique calligraphy style best to research and introduce Mr anese communications. Starting in ations on March 13 after being evolved from his literary and philo­ Zhao Puchu’s works. We believe this the 1960s, Zhao promoted showcas­ closed for 50 days due to the novel sophical ideas. We began to put his is the best way to commemorate es of Jianzhen relics in China and coronavirus outbreak. relics in order and make inventories him,” says Yang. facilitated Japanese artist Higashi­ During this year’s International in March 2019 before selecting his The exhibition consists of four yama Haii’s tours to China, where he Museum Day, 87 museums in works of historical significance, as chapters, each reflecting aspects of created a series of murals for Tosho­ Shanghai were opened for free to well as works that best illustrate his his personality and achievements: daiji, the temple with Jianzhen’s the public. A hundred museums in vision and attitude.” The first, A Legendary Patriot, fea­ heritage. Shanghai have also announced that Zhao was born in Anqing of tures his writings about China’s The ongoing exhibition, Infinite Compassion: The Calligraphy of Zhao Puchu’s calligraphy exhibi­ Chinese medical workers will get to Anhui province in 1907 and arrived development and social changes; Zhao Puchu, at Shanghai Museum features 93 of Zhao’s works, tion was opened to the public enjoy free admission through the in Shanghai when he was 13. Here, the second chapter, named A Titan including calligraphy pieces, poems and other documents, all of three days after International year. he became a Buddhist, building a of Arts and Letters, presents his which were donated by his family. Admission is free, but online Museum Day. Shanghai Museum close friendship with eminent handwritten poetry; the third part is reservations are required for the show, which runs through July 19. debuted its online streaming of its Contact the writer at monks of the time as he believed it A Vimalakirti of Today, which PHOTOS BY GAO ERQIANG / CHINA DAILY exhibition on that day, receiving [email protected] Building miniature models of the big world

By HE QI this is the most difficult part about [email protected] creating miniature models,” he says. When asked about his favorite Unlike his retired friends, who works, Peng singled out the re­crea­ can spend all day playing mahjong, tion of the shops and streets of Peng Yimin prefers spending his Sijing town that he used to frequent time re­creating buildings — in min­ when he was young. iature form. “All these shops, such as the para­ Since learning of the art form 20 sol shop, the scissors shop and the years ago when he was attending a traditional cloth shop, that I have school for senior citizens, the restored no longer exist. I recreated 81­year­old has created hundreds of them based solely on my memories miniature buildings. — there was just nothing for me to Many of his works have received reference,” he says. accolades, including a replica of the Despite being skilled in the art iconic City God Temple in Shanghai form, Peng says he has no desire to which won first prize in a national teach, not because he is afraid oth­ competition. The model, which took ers might surpass him, but because him a year to complete, is now held Peng Yimin creates miniature buildings using mostly waste materials. The 81­year­old from Shanghai’s Sijing town started to learn the he has no idea how he would go by Sijing town, the area where his craft 20 years ago after retirement. PHOTOS BY HE QI / CHINA DAILY about teaching. small studio is located. “There are many people who have His other notable creations said that they want to learn from include celebrities’ residences and hobby — he relies primarily on such or even years, he says. just a steady pair of hands to create window decorations.” me, but I do not have an apprentice Sijing Old Town. waste materials as used bamboo One of Peng’s first miniature mod­ miniature models — a good memory Peng spared no effort when it as I simply don’t know how to “Most of my works, including the chopsticks, discarded tri­ply wood, els was a replica of the Anfang Tow­ was essential as well. came to the details, including fix­ teach,” he quips. China Pavilion of the World Expo, mooncake boxes, cigarette boxes er, a scenic spot in Sijing town that He did not have the structural tures such as the eight bells on each “I’m a self­taught artist. I don’t are being displayed in different insti­ and old fabrics. was part of the reconstruction drawings of the tower nor a camera floor. These tiny bells, which he cre­ have books or notes that I can pass tutions as well as at the school for sen­ He says that it is difficult to project of the ancient town in 2002. at that time, so he could only rely on ated using scrap metal, could even to my students.” ior citizens in Sijing town,” Peng says. determine how long it would take Having passed by the tower almost his eyes, he says. be rung. Peng says his upcoming projects Although his creations may look to complete a model. A small model every day, Peng wondered if he could “I had to take note of the height of “No one would tell you how to cre­ include recreating shikumen build­ impressive and incredibly detailed, could be finished in an hour, but make a model of it. This was when he each floor, the camber of the eaves ate each part and you just have to ings in Shanghai and the Peng does not spend much on this larger works could require months realized that one needs more than and even the patterns of railings and rely on your imagination. I find that Tian’anmen Rostrum in Beijing.