Cixi
East Asian calligraphy is a form of calligraphy widely practised and revered in the Sinosphere. This most often includes China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The East Asian calligraphic tradition originated and developed from China. There is a general standardization of the various styles of calligraphy in this tradition. Calligraphy has influenced ink and wash painting, which is accomplished using similar tools and techniques. Calligraphy has also led to the development of many forms of art in East Asia, including seal carving, ornate paperweights, and inkstones.
Lianzi 练字 practicing character (writing) was part of every kid’s growing up routine. Long before my first grade, my Yeye watched over me like a hawk while I held a brush and traced the hollowed Chinese characters on the practice books, just as the kids in the west would trace the alphabets with the dots or broken lines. Chinese has a terrible deal in terms of written language: 2,000 individual characters are needed for a rudimentary education that enables one to read .. vs 26 alphabets .. hmmmmm ..
Chinese all appreciate a good penmanship. I still do, even nowadays when the key boards replace most writing.
慈禧赐刘秉璋手书 “福, 寿” 字
Empress Dowager bestows Liu Bingzhang “good fortune/blessing”, and ‘longevity”
The two diamond shaped calligraphy were bestowed to Liu from Cixi 慈禧, a common practice exercised by the Emperors. Gifting of calligraphy is still widely popular in China, very much sought after and appreciated. According to Uncle Shanlin, as late as 1960s, just before Culture Revolution, they had many calligraphy from Cixi laying around in the house and no one gave them an iota. Then proff, all of sudden the red guards came and the calligraphy were all gone with other stuffs.
There wasn’t any footnote at the museum so I don’t know IF
- the two diamond sheets were actually from Qing Dynasty. After so many years, especially the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), the chance of surviving is very slim.
- the two characters were actually inked by Cixi (1835
