Deng Yizhe, born in 1892, is a native of Huaining, Anhui. He and Zong Baihua, a famous esthetician of his generation, enjoy the reputation of "Southern Zong and Northern Deng". His father was a well-known pedagogue in the society at that time. Deng Yisun. At that time, the Deng family was a well-known scholarly family. Following the ancestor Deng Shiru, the famous calligrapher and seal carver, it had been passed down to the sixth generation. In these six generations, there were also many people who were proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. The entire family It can be said that there are many talents.
Group photo of the Deng family
Deng Yizhe, who was born in the late Qing Dynasty, naturally attended a private school when he was a child, and learned the traditional Chinese Four Books and Five Classics, chess, calligraphy and painting. If the current situation had not been turbulent, perhaps Deng Yizhe's life would have continued along the traditional route planned by his father and become a great calligrapher. However, the influx of Western thoughts completely changed the direction of Deng Yizhe's life.
In 1907, Deng Yizhe traveled east to Japan and entered Hongwen College to study. While studying in Japan, he met a fellow student from the same country, and this classmate was Chen Duxiu who later founded the magazine "New Youth". During his interactions with Chen Duxiu, Deng Yizhi received new ideas and concepts, which caused a huge change in his thinking.
Old photos of Deng Yizhe
In 1917, Deng Yizhe went to the United States for further study, studying philosophy and aesthetics at Columbia University. It was precisely because of these overseas study experiences that Deng Yizhi fully understood Western culture and became broadened in his thinking. After returning to China after completing his studies, Deng Yizhi used the knowledge he had learned to devote himself to China's cultural and educational undertakings.
In 1911, the Revolution of 1911 broke out. In just two months after the victory of the Wuchang Uprising, Anhui declared independence. As the eldest son of the prestigious Deng family in Anhui, Deng Yizhi was invited to serve as the director of the Education Department of Anhui Province. After hearing about this, his old friend Chen Duxiu wrote to Deng Yizhi to express his congratulations, but also suggested that he continue his studies.
Deng Yizhi listened to this opinion and believed deeply in his old friend's suggestion. Soon after, he resigned from his official position and went to study in the United States again. In 1923, Deng Yizhe's mother died of illness, so he put aside his studies and returned to China. After returning to China, Deng Yizhe received invitations from Tsinghua University and Peking University and became a university lecturer.
Old photos of Tsinghua University
Deng Yizhi’s period of teaching at the university was also the most glorious period of his artistic creation. The Chinese painting theory he proposed had a profound influence on subsequent art creators. The days when he was teaching at Tsinghua University were also the most comfortable and relaxing times in Deng Yizhe's life. He often got together with his friends Qian Zhongshu, Lin Huiyin, Jin Yuelin, etc. to chat and live happily.