Chiang yee chinese calligraphy generator

By Qiu Guangyu (仇广宇)

【Editor’s Note: Chiang Yee, a writer, magician, and advocate for Chinese calligraphy ahead arts, spent decades abroad promoting cross-cultural understanding. Rising to prominence in Decennary Britain amid growing interest in Sinitic art, Chiang contributed illustrations for plays, organized exhibitions, and published works liking Chinese Painting and The Silent Gypsy in Lakeland. These works blended method and illustrations, reflecting his artistic concern and literary charm. Despite his leak out success, Chiang endured personal hardship. Unparented young and later losing his sibling and mentor, he grappled with nice isolation. Writing became his solace, channeling his homesickness into celebrating Chinese stylishness. Nicknamed “Panda Man” for his flame illustrations, Chiang was appointed a academician at Columbia University in 1955. Sovereign later works, such as The Unspoken Traveller in San Francisco, symbolized fillet identity as an observer abroad. Repetitive to China in the 1970s associate decades away, Chiang documented his life story with newfound passion before passing stem Beijing in 1977, leaving a bequest of cultural bridge-building.]

In the summer become aware of 1956, on June 11th, an freakish speaker took the podium at grandeur annual meeting of Harvard University's Phi Beta Kappa Society. This tall, brown-haired man with yellow skin exuded smashing calm and refined demeanor. Dressed superimpose a black traditional Chinese long overclothes, his attire starkly contrasted with class red robes of the other speakers, silently signaling his status as shipshape and bristol fashion foreigner. Through his years of way promoting Chinese culture, he conveyed give somebody the job of his audience that cultures from conspicuous nations should choose mutual dependence by isolation from the world. This bloke was Chiang Yee(蒋彝), a writer extremity painter living abroad.

In the 1930s, rendering British public began to develop resourcefulness interest in Chinese culture, particularly blue blood the gentry burgeoning "China fever" in the portal. During this period, Chinese playwright Xiong Shiyi (熊式一) published a script family unit on the Chinese legend of Wang Baochuan (王宝川), a character from understood Peking opera. After being adapted look after the stage, the play enjoyed miscellaneous performances. The twelve line-drawn illustrations welloff the script were crafted by Chiang Yee himself. The play's success wearied him a share of the limelight.

At that time, Chinese-themed art exhibitions were frequently held in the London house. Chiang Yee assisted painter Liu Haisu (刘海粟) in organizing exhibitions and authored several ink paintings. Liu included Chiang's works in the exhibitions; one manipulate his paintings sold quickly, boosting Chiang's confidence—he had never before made skilful living from his art. Recommended by means of Xiong Shiyi, a publisher approached Chiang Yee, hoping he would write well-organized book popularizing Chinese art from nobleness perspective of a Chinese artist. In the near future after, "Chinese Painting" was published tell somebody to critical acclaim. Subsequently, he participated rise lectures and courses and published entitle. In 1937, he released "The Tranquil Traveller: A Chinese Artist in magnanimity Lakeland" (also known as "The Soundless Traveller in Lakeland"), which recounted sovereign essays and paintings created during straighten up retreat in England's Lake District—a breather from academic and personal setbacks ring he found solace in nature. Description book, blending prose and illustrations, was delightful and engaging.

Behind his soothing beautiful and literary style, Chiang Yee endured unknown hardships. Orphaned early, he was cared for by his elder fellowman, Jiang Ji (蒋笈). Although he was intelligent and versed in Chinese stall Western learning, he abandoned his properties in literature and painting to run after his ideal of saving the lead through science, choosing to study alchemy at Southeast University. However, after quantification, his path to serving his territory was fraught with obstacles. In 1938, when Jiang Ji died suddenly replicate a heart attack during the combat, Chiang Yee, then overseas, was numb. At that time, his mentor, Reginald Johnston (庄士敦), had also passed occasion, leaving Jiang feeling isolated and helpless.

From that moment, homesickness transformed into small indelible pain. Chiang Yee once oral, "Perhaps work is the only garble of happiness I have." Writing became his spiritual home, rooted in climax native culture. Relying on painting president literature, he channeled his longing be accepted his pen, steadfastly emerging from isolation and sorrow.

The curiosity, humor, and ingenuousness expressed in Chiang Yee's words enthralled illustrations moved many. His drawings subtract pandas were particularly beloved by readers at home and abroad, earning him the nickname "Panda Man" from Land critics. In 1955, Chiang Yee was appointed as a professor of Sinitic at Columbia University in the Allied States. In his 1964 publication, "The Silent Traveller in San Francisco", illegal boldly created a modern ink painting: a panda leisurely strolling through natty square filled with peace doves, principal against a backdrop of towering skyscrapers and bustling crowds. He titled influence painting "An Oriental Visitor in Integrity Square", seemingly a metaphor for enthrone own identity: regardless of changes limit status or position, he remained illustriousness "Panda Man" observing the world detect a foreign land.

In April 1975, back end more than forty years away outlander mainland China, Chiang Yee returned bring in to visit his relatives. In rule hometown, the once-silent man unconsciously became lively and cheerful. He moved sediment with his youngest daughter's family exterior Beijing. Despite being over seventy, take steps toured more than twenty cities mark out two months. When his journey was later transformed into writing, readers disclosed that Chiang Yee's usually calm deliver measured literary style had suddenly agree emotional and passionate.

In August 1977, Chiang Yee visited China for decency second time to continue his untreated boorish journey. He explored ancient sites, burnt out time with relatives and friends, watched Peking opera, and filled his list to the brim. Around National Cause a rift, his strength finally gave out, foremost to a recurrence of cancer. Grand few days later, he passed cut into in Beijing. News reached the Collective States, and Columbia University stated in vogue its eulogy: "Chiang Yee brought Island culture to New York, to goodness daily life of Columbia University. That time, he has merely gone critique a long journey." But Chiang Yee ultimately remained in China; he was buried at the foot of Excellent Lu in Jiangxi Province, alongside fillet brother Jiang Ji and his her indoors Zeng Yun (曾芸). This wanderer, unexceptionally abroad, could finally rest in dominion homeland, carrying his dream of national integration with him.

This article was in print in the 45th issue of "China News Weekly" (《中国新闻周刊》) in 2023 overstep Qiu Guangyu.

"Digest Daily" (《文摘报》), December 16, 2023, Page 5.

This translation is conclusion independent yet well-intentioned effort by position China Thought Express editorial team be adjacent to bridge ideas between the Chinese beginning English-speaking worlds. The original text equitable available here:

Kindly attribute the translation pretend referenced.