Auguste Rodin once said: "I think the broadest meaning of the word artist refers to those who are happy with the profession they are engaged in. So I hope that there will be artists in all professions. Many artists. "
Art is mysterious, noble and profound, beyond the reach of ordinary people; art is full of magic, and people spend their lives growing into better people. From youth to old age, time has witnessed art and original intention.
Zhang Ruiling, China’s number one regular script calligrapher, started practicing calligraphy at the age of 13. Now in his 80s, he is still writing non-stop.
One of his regular scripts once sold for a sky-high price of 5.93 million. After 70 years of perseverance, Zhang Ruiling finally achieved his calligraphy goal.
The indissoluble bond with calligraphy
Zhang Ruiling was born in Tangshan in 1936. His father was a businessman, so Zhang Ruiling was from a well-off family.
My father loved collecting. When Zhang Ruiling was very young, he had many calligraphy works in his home. Influenced by the family atmosphere, Zhang Ruiling also began to copy copybooks.
In 1949, by chance, Zhang Ruiling felt the beauty of regular script, with its square fonts and smooth lines. The 13-year-old Zhang Ruiling felt that regular script was the most beautiful text in the world.
A seed called calligraphy took root and sprouted in his heart. At that time, Zhang Ruiling did not expect that regular script would accompany him throughout his life.
After setting his own goal, Zhang Ruiling worked hard. He spent a lot of time practicing calligraphy every day, and his regular script level improved by leaps and bounds.
Two years later, Zhang Ruiling’s beautiful regular script attracted the attention of his leaders, and he entered the Tangshan Taxation Bureau.
Why does the Tangshan Taxation Bureau need someone who can write extremely well in regular script? At that time, tax stamps were all handwritten, and Zhang Ruiling, who wrote neatly in regular script, was naturally the most suitable candidate.
In the 1960s and 1970s, China's political environment was turbulent. As a cultural figure, Zhang Ruiling was also affected. He was sent to work in a cement factory.
Despite the difficulty of life, Zhang Ruiling still maintains great enthusiasm for regular script and seizes every opportunity to practice it. Because of this, Zhang Ruiling's calligraphy level has not been affected in any way.
Soon after, Zhang Ruiling’s regular script was appreciated by the leader again, and he became the factory’s publicity personnel. In Zhang Ruiling's subsequent career, he worked as a staff member of the tax bureau and a bank. However, Zhang Ruiling never worked as a professional calligrapher.
In other words, during Zhang Ruiling's 70-year calligraphy career, he was just an amateur.
Brilliant calligraphy
What is Zhang Ruiling’s calligraphy level? In 1997, Zhang Ruiling's regular script was engraved on a stone tablet, and this stone tablet is the famous Monument to the Heroes of North China.
Despite the pressure, Zhang Ruiling still completed the task successfully, and he became a famous calligrapher in China.
Zhang Ruiling is not only a Chinese calligrapher, but also a world-renowned calligrapher. During his tenure as Prime Minister of Japan, Zhang Ruiling once gave him the handwritten "Preface to the Lanting Collection". The Prime Minister was amazed after seeing it.
Zhang Ruiling's regular script works have made an indelible contribution to enhancing the close relationship between China and Japan. At the same time, China's excellent traditional culture has been widely spread in Japan.
In the calligraphy world, Zhang Ruiling is a highly respected figure. He has deep qualifications and a very high level of regular script, but he always remains humble and low-key.
He rarely mentions his identity as a senior in the calligraphy field, and is very indifferent to honor, status and other external things.
In Zhang Ruiling's view, he is just a calligraphy enthusiast and cannot be called a calligrapher, and he has no superiority.
The level of calligraphy is a matter of benevolence and wisdom. Some people like Zhang Ruiling's calligraphy, but naturally some people hate it. In people's opinion, regular script is the basis for learning calligraphy, and it is also the easiest to practice in the entire calligraphy world.
Zhang Ruiling is the first person in Chinese regular script, and millions of people can also be the first person in Chinese regular script. This originally has no advantage.
At the same time, some people in the calligraphy circle think that people who are good at regular script are too rigid and have no creativity of their own. They will always just copy and lack flexibility. People recognize Zhang Ruiling's calligraphy skills, but they don't think he is a qualified artist.
Artistic quality and value
Zhang Ruiling plays a decisive role in the field of calligraphy and is also famous in the collection circle.
In 2007, Zhang Ruiling's calligraphy work "Diamond Sutra" appeared in an autumn auction. This work attracted a lot of attention as soon as it appeared, and many collectors flocked to it.
In the end, this work was successfully traded for 5.93 million, and Zhang Ruiling also created history with this work.
At that time, the price of a professional calligrapher’s work was only one million yuan. As an amateur calligrapher, Zhang Ruiling’s achievement really shocked many people.
Now Zhang Ruiling is over 80 years old. He has been on the path of calligraphy for 70 years.
Zhang Ruiling's achievements are not only reflected in his 5.93 million calligraphy works, but also in his artistic accomplishment and realm. His life was an inspiring life and a life of pursuing dreams.
First of all, light joy is like a gray dog, loyal love is like the long wind, keep your interest as your companion, and use your interest as your teacher. During Zhang Ruiling's 70-year calligraphy career, he encountered countless difficulties.
Unreasonable accusations and abuse from the outside world, as well as the exhaustion of practicing calligraphy, were once stumbling blocks on his calligraphy path. However, whenever Zhang Ruiling recalls the happiness that calligraphy brings to him, he can always be motivated again.
Secondly, life is not only the process of chasing fame and fortune, but also the opportunity to find yourself. In people's eyes, Zhang Ruiling has become the first person in Chinese regular script, so he has received many opportunities to explore a world that others can't imagine.
However, in Zhang Ruiling's eyes, money and status are always just external things. The reason why he perseveres in pursuing calligraphy is just because of his obsession and love.