With the implementation of various media software, it seems that several "masters" have appeared in China overnight. These masters not only have their own associations, but also their own exhibitions, but their practical works are unbearable to look at. Even so, these so-called masters still go their own way and even participate in some TV programs, misleading many minors.
Isn't there a real master in China? Take calligraphy as an example. As a national quintessence art in China, there is always a saying that "the masters are among the people". Many truly talented people may not be famous at all, but you will understand what art is when you see his works.
However, in the calligraphy circle of our country, there is such a master with mixed reputation. Anyone who has come into contact with calligraphy has heard of his name, and his reputation in the calligraphy circle is unparalleled, but at the same time, there are also many peers who blame him. He doesn't know calligraphy, so is this a real calligrapher or an "impostor" after all?
No matter which circle, there are so-called factions. Because people you like are different, people you support are also different. This is very obvious in the cross talk circle. If there are factions in China's contemporary calligraphy and painting circles, then Oumen must be the one with the largest number and the most limelight, and its boss is Ouyang Zhongshi, the hero today.
In the usual calligraphy circle, Oumen not only has the largest number of people, but also has the most complicated network. It can be said that in the calligraphy circle, anyone who is somewhat famous has something to do with him. For example, Chen Hongwu, the master with the best development momentum at present, is a disciple handed down by Ouyang Zhongshi, so that even Mr. Tian Yingzhang, a contemporary pavilion master, has to respectfully call him a master when he meets him.
Of course, Ouyang Zhongshi can be respected by so many famous artists, which has a lot to do with his own fame. First of all, he is a professor at Capital Normal University. Secondly, he is also the winner of the lifetime achievement award of China Lanting Calligraphy Award, and he works as a staff officer in China Calligraphers Association. Such fame and honor are unprecedented in calligraphy circles, at least unprecedented.
Perhaps it has many reputations or a high reputation. Mo Bao in Ouyang Zhongshi can be said to be all over the streets and lanes of China. If you are a person who loves to play, you will find that all the scenic spots in China are basically Ouyang Zhongshi's inscriptions, and even in some institutions, you can see his Mo Bao. Therefore, he is also laughed at as a "signboard inscription specialist".
Ouyang Zhongshi can get such high support. Apart from calligraphy, there are also reasons to respect his knowledge. Unlike calligraphers who are very proficient in calligraphy, it is not an exaggeration to describe Ouyang Zhongshi as knowledgeable. Maybe he can't reach mastery in a certain professional field, but his knowledge is so broad that some people say, "There is no student he can't teach, and there is no knowledge he can't tell."
so how did he get to such a height? In fact, clues can be found from his youth. He yearned for different fields of learning since he was a child. It is hard to imagine that a person who is well-known in calligraphy is actually a student of philosophy.
When he was studying philosophy at Peking University, he could reach the point where Chinese and Western philosophy penetrated, and then he turned to the field of poetry, learning from Zhang Boju at that time. Is it necessary for him to specialize in poetry from now on? Actually, it's not. After studying poetry and kung fu, he didn't get caught up in it, but began to learn about drama and became a famous fan.
so when did he start learning calligraphy? It's coming after graduation. Due to various coincidences, Ouyang Zhongshi accidentally met Mr. Wu Yuru, a famous calligrapher at that time. Perhaps it was a coincidence or fate. After getting to know each other, he quickly joined Wu Yuru's name and studied calligraphy kung fu. He can say without scruple that it is difficult to find a person who can match him in the breadth of knowledge in the whole calligraphy and even the whole cultural circles.
Although Ouyang Zhongshi is well-known, it is definitely calligraphy that brings him the greatest fame, which is also the career that consumes the most time in his life. The title of a "calligrapher" is enough to sum up all his achievements, but in calligraphy alone, it can't make him successful. The biggest difference between him and other calligraphers is that he can teach others. In the matter of calligraphy education, Ouyang Zhongshi is ahead of all others.
His contribution is well known to the world. Throughout today's calligraphy circle, more than half of the whole two generations, middle-aged and young, have been instructed and educated by him. Putting aside the word calligraphy and commenting only on the word master, Ouyang Zhongshi absolutely deserved it. In order to promote calligraphy, he not only set up a calligraphy major in universities, but also created a set of educational reform system of his own, which shook the education circles at that time.
Although Ouyang Zhongshi can reach such a height and gain so many reputations, from the aspect of calligraphy alone, his calligraphy is still not recognized by many people, so that some people say that he is not a person who knows calligraphy, and many colleagues also bluntly say that his calligraphy is an ugly letter, which is a very humiliating way of judging.
so from his calligraphy itself, what height did he reach after all? First of all, it can be concluded that his calligraphy level did not reach the height of Master Wu Yuru, but it was also quite high, especially in his calligraphy, and he learned from others' strengths. Unfortunately, although he has a solid foundation, he is too eager to form his own school, which left defects in his calligraphy works. It is precisely for these reasons that Cao Dawei, a former member of the Calligraphy Association, directly issued a document to stop criticizing him, claiming that he did not know what pen and ink were.
So, to be fair, what is the level of Ouyang Zhongshi's calligraphy after all? Ouyang Zhongshi's own calligraphy works are unique, but there are many flaws on the whole, so they are not suitable to be a calligraphy font for spreading to later generations. Among the people, many people call Ouyang Zhongshi's calligraphy "Daoxiao Noodles style". Because he prefers the disposition of the lateral front in his calligraphy, he often neglects the overall glyph, and such calligraphy works will give people a feeling of cowardice and weakness.
At the same time, when Ouyang Zhongshi writes calligraphy, there is no fixed composition. Some words may still show his skill, but some words are too unconstrained and very casual. Although they have reached another height in terms of ideological situation, from an aesthetic point of view, they really cannot be convinced.
Although there are too many controversies about Ouyang Zhongshi, to be honest, Ouyang Zhongshi's personal charm is still very strong. Even though he was criticized so much, he didn't feel too much resentment. Instead, he insisted on a humble attitude from time to time, which is rare in calligraphy.
In the calligraphy world, once a person becomes famous, he/she will start to raise his/her social status, and he/she will pose as a master in attending activities. Most importantly, he/she can't stand all kinds of comments and discussions any more, and even abuse netizens because of their initiative.
But Ouyang Zhongshi is completely different. Facing the inner circle, Ouyang Zhongshi is very low-key, and all kinds of criticisms about his peers rarely go back. Externally, Ouyang Zhongshi has never claimed to be a "calligrapher" in any public field. He has always insisted that he is a teacher and called his works a disgrace, which constitutes a very obvious contrast.
Of course, some people say that he kept telling the outside world in his later years that his departure works were second to none, which was a very arrogant performance. However, the person who said this obviously didn't have any understanding about Ouyang Zhongshi. Like many elderly people, Ouyang Zhongshi, who was getting older, also showed eye diseases and cataracts, and he was almost blind with his eyes. But his statement was actually a mockery of himself, not a sign of pride.
At this time, some people may ask, since Ouyang Zhongshi said that he is only a teacher, why should he accept the Lanting Lifetime Achievement Award? First of all, this award is not awarded to me by him, but by the relevant judges. I heard that at the time of award, Ouyang Zhongshi didn't bear it at first, and kept saying that he was not qualified, but he was forced to bear it after being persuaded by his friends. But even after such an award was awarded, he never called himself a master in public occasions. Every time he talked about his calligraphy, he just said "OK".
As for the identity of the staff of the Calligraphy Association, the first major punishment is his contribution to calligraphy education, which is actually a support for his personal leading role. On November 5th, 22, Mr Ouyang Zhongshi passed away in Beijing.
As for professional calligraphers, when writing calligraphy, they must stand and write. When writing calligraphy in a decent way, they don't finish writing a word in a minute or two like the role played on TV, but they need their own consideration and deliberation, and finally they can put pen to paper. Many young people can't persist in writing calligraphy because of fatigue, but Ouyang Zhongshi has persisted for so many years.
What will Ouyang Zhongshi's calligraphy look like after all? History has its own judgment, and it doesn't need to care about the evaluation among peers. However, in terms of honor, Ouyang Zhongshi has completely assumed the title of "Master", although his calligraphy works have also been criticized, but without Ouyang Zhongshi, China's calligraphy would never have developed to such an extent. What contribution would those who criticize him make?