Chinese Calligraphy

230 Pages·2016·22.2 MB·English

by  Tseng Yu-ho Ecke.

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CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY
The characterslui ("to write"), from the hanging scroll by ShihK'o-fa (no. 76)
Tseng Yu-ho Ecke
HINESE
CALLIGRAPHY
David R. Godine in association with
Museum Art
Philadelphia of
David R. Godine Publisher
Boston, Massachusetts
Copyright 1971 by the Philadelphia Museum ofArt
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number- 75-161453
International Standard Book Number: 0-87923-072-x
Third Printing
Preface
Fewforms ofexpression inthelong history ofthe visualartsrequirethedepthofvisual
sophistication needed to understand Chinese calligraphy. It is an ancient art with subtle
traditions. At its best, calligraphy is an art in which the form ofthe expression must be
in absolute harmony with the concept being presented; in its execution, the brilliance
ofthe artist may have full expression.
With today's new curiosity about China and its culture, America has probably never
been so ready for an exhibition presenting the evolution ofthis great art form. More
important, the steadily growing concern nurtured by the succession of each day's
franticpressuresthatleads greaternumbersofpeopletoseekrespiteinmysticaloutlooks,
creates greaterreceptivitytothe intricaciesofcalligraphicart. Most important, however,
the development ofAmerican art in the years since the Second World War has created
a much broader acceptance ofan art that is essentially abstract in its manner and its
meaning.
Thus the Philadelphia Museum ofArt has decided to gather these works together to
present a history ofChinese calligraphy and, through the catalogue, to create a more
general awareness ofits aesthetic attitudes. The Museum's Curator ofFar Eastern Art,
MissJean Gordon Lee, has carried the responsibility for the creation ofthis exhibition.
Working closely with Mrs. Tseng Yu-ho Ecke, she has studied the great body of
material that is to be found inthe United States, assessing its quality, andchoosing some
one hundred examples to suggest the brilliance ofthis great tradition.
The exhibition owes a great deal to Mrs. Ecke. Her scholarship in the field ofcallig-
raphy—clearly evident in this catalogue—is beyond doubt supported by her own
brilliance as a painter. Indeed, she wrote the calligraphy that adorns the cover ofthis
catalogue.
The distinguished collector, Mr. John M. Crawford,Jr., has been notably generous
in his support; repeatedly his enthusiasm has provided welcome encouragement. The
Museum owes a great debt ofthanks to him and the other lenders. Each lender realizes
how important time is as a factor in the enjoyment ofdistinguished calligraphy. Being
abletoseewithleisureeachofthesetreasures inabroadercontextwilladdimmeasurably
to the appreciation ofits particular quality.
Evan H. Turner
Director
Lenders to the Exhibition
The Art Institute ofChicago
The Art Museum, Princeton University
Center ofAsian Art and Culture, The Avery Brundage
Collection, San Francisco
The Cleveland Museum ofArt
John M. Crawford, New York
Jr.,
Professor and Mrs. Gustav Ecke, Honolulu
Field Museum ofNatural History, Chicago
Honolulu Academy ofArts
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Litaker, Honolulu
Los Angeles County Museum ofArt
The Metropolitan Museum ofArt, New York
Museum ofFine Arts, Boston
Nelson Gallery-Atkins Museum, Kansas City
Philadelphia Museum ofArt
Portland Art Museum, Oregon
Private collection, Honolulu
Colonel and Mrs. Edward W. Rosenbaum, Rydal, Pennsylvania
Seattle Art Museum
Laurence Sickman, Kansas City
Colonel and Mrs. Tong-lao, Honolulu
The University ofMichigan Museum ofArt, Ann Arbor
Wango H. C. Weng Collection, New York