Zhaihao Fun Talk · Guo Ruoyu
Guo Ruoyu (1921~), courtesy name Zhikan, was born in Nanhui, Shanghai. Scholar, graduated from the Chinese Literature Department of Shanghai Guanghua University. Since the 1940s, he has studied Chinese painting from Mr. Ruan Xingshan, ancient writing and archeology from Mr. Guo Moruo, and seal stone, calligraphy, and seal cutting from Mr. Deng Sanmu, and became a disciple of Mr. Deng. In 1950, he worked in the Cultural Relics Department of the Ministry of Culture of the East China Military and Political Commission, and was later transferred to the Shanghai Municipal Cultural Relics Preservation Commission as the Director of the Archaeological Department until his retirement.
The main study rooms are: Golden Plum Blossom Room. Golden Plum Blossom Room
Why did Guo Ruoyu name his restaurant "Golden Plum Blossom Room"? This starts with his teacher Ruan Xingshan. Ruan Xingshan (1891～1974) was a master of poetry and calligraphy, and a master of painting. He was an early member of the Xiling Seal Society along with Ding Fuzhi, Wu Changshuo and Wang Fu'an. He likes to make ink paintings, especially plum blossoms, with icy posture and iron bones, thin and expressive, which won the praise of Huang Binhong, Pan Tianshou and others.
One of Guo Ruoyu’s middle school classmates is Mr. Ruan’s nephew. Through this relationship, he was able to learn from Ruan Xingshan, and from then on he fell in love with plum and ink orchids. In addition to painting, he also visited ancient and modern famous places. In the 1950s, Guo Ruoyu accidentally found a plum painting by Jin Junming, a famous plum painter in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, at the antique market on Wuma Road (now Guangdong Road) in Shanghai. He loved it so much that he hung it on the wall and studied it day and night. This is where the name "Golden Plum Blossom Room" comes from.
At that time, there were many calligraphy and painting friends who came in and out of the "Golden Plum Blossom Room", among which Baijiao and Gaoluoyuan were worth mentioning.
Bai Jiao (1907-1969) was a master of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal printing. He was known as the "Three Heroes of Maritime Calligraphy" together with Shen Yinmo and Pan Boying. In the 1920s, he also advocated new literature and published a collection of vernacular poems "White Jiao", which had a great influence among literary youths.
Although Bai Jiao is 9 years younger than Mr. Deng Sanmu, they have similar interests. They often hold calligraphy and painting exhibitions together, and they are both addicted to alcohol. It was at Mr. Deng Sanmu's place that he and Guo Ruoyu forged a deep friendship. From then on, he often went to the "Golden Plum Blossom Room" to view Guo Ruoyu's collection of calligraphy and paintings, seals, coins and various old rubbings, and he also wrote and painted there many times. "Golden Plum Blossom Room" was inscribed by Bai Jiao.
Gaoluo Garden, named Tokifu and nicknamed Luo Garden, is a famous seal engraver and seal collector. In 1939, he and Ding Fuzhi and others compiled "Ding Chou Jie Remaining Seals", which compiled more than 1,900 representative works of 273 famous seal makers since the Ming Dynasty. It is regarded as a brief history of seal cutting in the Ming and Qing Dynasties expressed in the form of works, and has great influence. big. In 1944, it was compiled into "Le Zhi Shi Yin Pu" and published. Guo Ruoyu is also a collector of seals. Seeing this masterpiece, he regards it as a treasure. In 1960, Mr. Ruan Xingshan introduced the two of them to meet, and they talked about literature and art. They hit it off so well that they felt like they had met so late. Mr. Gao once painted the "Collection of Seals of the Zhi Ni Ni" for him. In 1965, he carved three stone seals for him, one of which is the white text "Golden Plum Blossom Room". At this time, Mr. Luo Yuan was already 81 years old, which shows that his skills in sealing remain unfaded even with old age.
Guo Ruoyu in the study
Golden Plum Blossom Room Gaoluo Garden Magazine
Golden Plum Blossom Room Inscribed on White Jiao