On October 24, the “Yi Bing Shou Award” calligraphy and seal engraving exhibition, featuring works in the clerical script from both domestic and international artists, officially opened at the Fujian Strait Folk Art Museum in Fuzhou.
This exhibition is guided by the Fujian Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles and organized by the Fujian Calligraphers Association, the People’s Government of Ninghua County, and the Sanming Municipal Federation of Literary and Art Circles. A total of 161 works are on display, predominantly focused on poetry and couplets related to Yi Bing Shou. The artworks showcase a variety of styles, drawing inspiration from ancient texts and inscriptions, including bamboo slips, silk manuscripts, Han dynasty steles, and Qing dynasty clerical script, effectively capturing the grandeur of clerical script.
Yi Bing Shou, whose courtesy name was Zu Shi and later known as Mo Qing and Mo An, hailed from Ninghua County in Fujian. He was a successful scholar in the 54th year of the Qianlong reign and served in various official capacities, becoming famous for his integrity and ability in governance. His reputation was such that thousands of citizens mourned his departure, and he was honored as one of the “Four Worthies of Yangzhou.”
With his outstanding contributions to the revival of clerical script during the Qing dynasty, Yi Bing Shou left a lasting influence on future calligraphers and holds a significant place in the history of Chinese calligraphy. His calligraphy is renowned for its connection to true Han clerical traditions, enhancing its form and substance, leading to the creation of the “Yi Clerical Style.”
In his opening remarks, Han Sheng, the Deputy Mayor of Ninghua County, highlighted that over recent years, Ninghua has placed a strong emphasis on promoting the cultural heritage of Hakka celebrities. In honor of Yi Bing Shou’s 270th birthday, a series of commemorative events have been organized, including the opening of his former residence and cultural park, as well as the writing of a biography titled “The Life of Yi Bing Shou.” The current exhibition is part of these celebratory activities.
Since their call for submissions launched in March, the “Yi Bing Shou Award” exhibition received an impressive 3,139 entries from calligraphy enthusiasts around the world. After a rigorous selection process, 152 pieces were chosen for display, with the first exhibition held from September 19 to October 22 in Ninghua.
Huang Kunsheng, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Fujian Calligraphers Association, remarked that these calligraphy works not only root themselves in tradition but also reflect contemporary aesthetic trends, representing the overall style of clerical script creation in current calligraphy circles. He referred to it as a “mini national exhibition” for the clerical script community in China.
The “Yi Bing Shou Award” exhibition in Fuzhou showcases a total of 161 pieces, including 152 selected entries and 9 special invited works from reputed calligraphers in Fujian.
