Wen Duan Honggang
There is Heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou on top. In the southern foothills of the beautiful Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area, there is a prestigious and "lonely high temperament" folk gold and stone seal carving research academic society, which is the "Xiling Seal Society" with a history of hundreds of years.
Founded in 1904 by ding fuzhi (1879-1949), Wang Fu'an (1880-1960), Wu Yin (1867-1922), and Ye Weiming (1866-1948), the Famous Seal Engravers of the Zhejiang School. The four were all literati who were active in the Hangzhou area at the end of the Qing Dynasty, and they loved gold stones, calligraphy and painting, and the same hobbies, which prompted them to have a strong desire to establish a printing society and carry forward the essence of the country. Because of their hard work and high achievements, the four people are known as the "Four Gentlemen of Xiling".
At that time, the four people, all young people with heroic ambitions, lost confidence in the declining Qing Dynasty, adhered to the purpose of saving traditional culture, held high the purpose of "preserving the golden stone, studying printing, and combining calligraphy and painting", and finally chose the beautiful and quiet environment at the foot of the lonely mountain of the West Lake and founded the Printing Society.
Xiling Printing Society, founded in 1904
At the beginning of the establishment of the Printing Society, the four gentlemen performed their duties and the division of labor was very clear.
Ding Fuzhi was the grandson of Ding Songsheng, the famous bibliophile of the late Qing Dynasty, "the owner of the Eight Thousand Scrolls Building", and the rich side, so he was the main investor of the Xiling Printing Society, the lease and construction of the venue, the purchase of office furniture, and the daily operating expenses, most of which were paid for by him.
Wang Fu'an worked in calligraphy, fine seal carving, deep learning, and became famous in the local area at a young age, so he mainly grasped the teaching work of the printing society and brought out many high-ranking disciples.
In addition to being proficient in calligraphy and seal engraving, Wu Yin also likes to meet friends with literature and make friends with famous people in the world, and his connections are very wide, so he plays a role in the printing company to expand his business outwards.
Ye Weiming is a doer who is in charge of the day-to-day management of the printing company.
It was the concerted efforts of the four gentlemen that quickly put the Printing Press on the right track.
Wang Fu'an and his friends
After 10 years of painstaking management, by 1913, Xiling Printing Society had become quite large and famous throughout the country, with hundreds of members from all over the country.
Perhaps the four gentlemen in the 10 years of mutual cooperation, the emergence of brotherly trust relationship, and because the four are humble gentlemen, humble to each other, sympathetic to each other, although xiling printing company has been established for 10 years, but none of the four people are willing to be the president, they all think that they are not worthy of the position.
A non-governmental academic group has been in existence for 10 years without its own helmsman, which is extremely rare in China and even in the world, and only a group with a lonely temperament like Xiling Printing Society can do it.
In the spring of 1913, after consultation, the four gentlemen decided to invite Mr. Wu Changshuo (1844-1927), a master of the "Hai Sect" who was famous throughout the country, to be the president, because at that time, in terms of seniority and influence, no one was more suitable than Wu Changshuo.
Wu Changshuo calligraphy
Wu Changshuo seal engraving
After the sincere persuasion of the four gentlemen, Mr. Wu Changshuo finally agreed to take office. Therefore, at the commemorative meeting for the 10th anniversary of the founding of the society held in 1913, it was solemnly announced that Mr. Wu Changshuo had become the first president of the Xiling Printing Society, and the generation of printing societies finally had a bright banner.
In order to thank the xiling printing society for its love, Wu Changshuo worked tirelessly and carved seals for each member, and all the seals were six words: Xiling printing society people. These six characters later became the identity label of every member of the Xiling Printing Society, and now, the new members of the Xiling Printing Society have these six words printed on their membership cards.
After taking office, Mr. Wu Changshuo was 70 years old at the time, and his influence in the poetry, calligraphy and painting printing industry at that time was huge, and with his joining, he soon attracted Li Shutong, Huang Binhong, Feng Zikai, Wu Hufan, Ma Yifu and other elites in the calligraphy and painting seal engraving circles, and the exhibition, collection, assembly, publishing and other businesses were flourishing, so that the Xiling Printing Society Society took it to a new level. Soon, the fame of Xiling Printing Society went out of Zhejiang and began to go to Japan, Korea, South Korea and other places, and then radiated to Southeast Asian countries, attracting a group of overseas students.
Ma Heng calligraphy
Zhang Zongxiang calligraphy
With the continuous expansion of influence, some European and American students also came to the West Lake to learn printing, and the Xiling Printing Society immediately became an international non-governmental organization at home and abroad for the study of printing and calligraphy and painting, and was labeled as the "World's First Society".
Neither the "East Lake Printing Society" in Wuhan, Hubei Province, which was established in 1961, nor the "Zhongnan Printing Society" established in the ancient city of Xi'an in 1979, could not shake the position of the leader of the Xiling Printing Society.
It can be said that the status and weight of the Xiling Printing Society can no longer be accurately described in words, and it is the temple in the hearts of every seal engraver and calligrapher in the world.
At the end of November 1927, Mr. Wu Changshuo passed away, and Xiling Printing Society once again opened the era without president, until 20 years later, that is, in 1947, the 66-year-old famous scholar, seal engraver, calligrapher and painter Ma Heng (1881-1955) became the second president.
Sha Menghai calligraphy
Zhao Puchu calligraphy
After Ma Heng's death, the position of president of Xiling Printing Society went through a gap of 6 years until 1963, when Mr. Zhang Zongxiang (1882-1965), who was 81 years old at the time, took office as the third president.
Twelve years after Zhang Zongxiang's death, 79-year-old Sha Menghai (1900-1993) became its fourth president.
After Sha Menghai became an ancient man, mr. Zhao Puchu (1907-2000), 84, immediately took over as the fifth president, and this time there was no gap in the helmsman's seat.
Three years after Zhao Puchu's death, mr. Qi Gong (1912-2005), who was 90 years old, took over as the sixth president.
After the long death of Qi Gong, Xiling Printing Agency once again experienced a situation of not having a president for 6 years, and in 2011, the 94-year-old Mr. Rao Zongyi (1917-2018) became the seventh president.
Since The death of Jao Zongyi, this seat has been vacant again for 3 years.
Qi Gong calligraphy
Jao Tsung Yi calligraphy
By this year, Xiling Printing Society has gone through 117 years of history, a total of 7 presidents, Wu Changshuo term of office for 14 years (1913 - 1927), Ma Heng 8 years (1947 - 1955), Zhang Zongxiang 2 years (1963 - 1965), Sha Menghai 14 years (1979 - 1993), Zhao Puchu 7 years (1993 - 2000), Qi Gong 3 years (2002 - 2005), Rao Zongyi 7 years (2011 - In 2018), the total number of years they spent in office was 55 years.
The history of Xiling Printing Society has not had a president for 62 years, which is unthinkable in other communities, but Xiling Printing Society, which has a lonely temperament, has done it.
History has proved that the president elected by Xiling Printing Society has always followed the principle of "preferring shortage to abuse", from Wu Changshuo to Rao Zongyi, they are all cultural giants with high moral standing, both ability and political integrity, and learning from China and the West, and they are all recognized masters at that time in many fields such as poetry, calligraphy, painting and printing, traditional Chinese studies, archaeology, and appreciation, and only they are worthy of the position of president of Xiling Printing Society. If there is no suitable candidate, leaving the president's seat vacant is a respect for culture and scholarship, and it is also a manifestation of the spirit of governance. This is the "lonely temperament" that Xiling Printing Society is proud of.
Shu Tong calligraphy
Shao Yu calligraphy
On another level, sitting in the seat of president of Xiling Printing Agency is more like giving him a lifelong achievement and lifelong honor, implying that he will not be forgotten by history.
"Lonely mountains are not lonely, Xiling is not cold", this is a true portrayal of the spiritual personality of Xiling people. They are as lonely and tall as Han Mei, inheriting the legacy of the sages, and they are not polluted, so they are looked up to by the world.
There is also a very famous organization with the same nature as the Xiling Printing Society, the Chinese Calligraphers Association.
Founded in 1981, the Chinese Calligraphers Association is a non-governmental organization that promotes the comprehensive development of calligraphy art in creation, academic research and exchange, calligraphy education, and publication of calligraphy monographs.
The most important exhibitions and awards in the field of calligraphy, such as the National Exhibition of Calligraphy and Seal Engraving, the Lanting Prize, and the Lin Sanzhi Prize, are all sponsored and selected by the Chinese Calligraphers Association. Every calligrapher who has spent his life winning an award in these exhibitions, or even showing his face once, is something he is proud of.
Shen Peng calligraphy
Zhang Hai calligraphy
Su Shishu calligraphy
In the history of the China Book Association in only 39 years, 6 presidents of the Book Association have been born, namely Shu Tong, Qi Gong, Shao Yu, Shen Peng, Zhang Hai, and Su Shishu.
If the comprehensive strength of the previous presidents of the China Book Association and the presidents of the previous Xiling Printing Society is compared, whether from the official positioning or the evaluation of the people, the president of the Chinese Book Association is far behind the president of the Xiling Printing Society in terms of calligraphy level, academic achievements, influence and popularity.
Successive presidents of Xiling Printing Society are all comprehensive and comprehensive masters, and they are veritable academic giants with far-reaching influence. The successive presidents of the China Book Association are more like calligraphy managers and educators, and the level of calligraphy is not outstanding in the same era.