I Take Responsibility for the Ink and Brushwork -- A Autobiography of Wu Guanzhong

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Preface (Author's Words): Who cares about the rumors after death? In fact, even the rumors during one's lifetime are beyond control. But the history of life only has one true version. Fabrication or distortion will all be exposed by time. I have always opposed writing my own biography, feeling that an ordinary life is unnecessary to be recorded. At the age of over eighty, I often see long and short articles narrating my life stories and words, with both good and bad intentions, praise or criticism, truth and falsehood mixed together. Though I see it all clearly, I can only let them spread freely. However, it prompted me to reflect that it would still be better to write a true account of myself for those who might seek me after my death. The book is divided into three parts. The first part narrates "The Flow of Life," recording the growth, development, transformation, and decline of my thoughts and emotions as time passes and life unfolds. This flow of life is like a painting of the "River Scene at Qingming Festival," focusing on the overall picture of the long river and its major turning points, while many local details require a magnifying glass to observe. The second part, "This Emotion, This Scene," is entirely a magnified close-up, including aspects of life and literary views. Many of the articles were written in response to reality at the time and caused strong reactions and controversies. They are presented to new readers unchanged, and readers have the largest freedom to choose the chapters that interest them. The third part is a chronology, the bill of life, for checking the errors in payment. This autobiography, written by Wu Guanzhong in three parts: The first part narrates the flow of life, recording the growth, development, transformation, and decline of his thoughts and emotions. The second part is a "magnified close-up," concerning life and literary views, with many articles written in response to reality at the time and causing strong reactions and controversies. The third part is a chronology. Additionally, in the book, he depicts the historical images of Lin Fengmian, Pan Yuliang, Pan Tianshou, Xu Beihong, Wei Tianlin, Jiang Feng, Liang Sicheng, Lin Huiyin, and others. Wu Guanzhong said, "Literature is more than painting." He explained that his later choice of art was a variation of failing to succeed in learning literature. "I bear the ink painting, and the ink painting bears me!" With his clear love and hatred, straightforward sincerity, and passionate writing, Wu Guanzhong elaborates on the true life journey of an artist and the boundless worldly thoughts of an ordinary person.