Complete Collection of Chinese Calligraphy (66) -- Qing Dynasty Liu Yongfu

Author: Liu Yong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Liu Yong (1719—1804), styled Chongru, known as Shijiong, was a native of Zhucheng, Shandong. He passed the imperial examination in the 16th year of the Qianlong reign (1751) and rose to the position of Grand Secretary of the Dongge University. Upon his death, he was posthumously honored as Wenqing. He excelled in small and medium regular scripts, drawing inspiration from Dong Qichang while also learning from Yan Zhenqing and Su Shi. After the age of 70, he devoted himself to studying Northern Dynasties steles and inscriptions. His calligraphy is characterized by thick ink, robust appearance with strong bones, and a unique style, highly regarded by his contemporaries as the crown of calligraphers of his generation. Kang Youwei, in his Broad Boat of Artistic Craftsmanship (Guang Yi Zhou Shuang Ji), also praised: "Shijiong, though inspired by Xiangguang (Dong Qichang), possesses great strength and depth, with sinews trembling and veins converging. Among modern cursive and running scripts that pursue a thick and robust style, none can surpass Shijiong's realm. Thus, I regard Shijiong as the culmination of seal script studies." His running script features spacious and orderly composition, profound and dense ink, with strokes executed in a wrapped-tip manner, gathering strength inward. The appearance is smooth and plump, exuding tranquility and integrity, while the bones remain firm and condensed. At the same time, the thick and heavy ink tone retains natural variations of dryness and moisture, with strokes varying in thickness and complementing each other, achieving a subtlety of grace within a sturdy style.
Preface: The works of calligraphy collected in this book span from the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the contemporary era, totaling over 100 volumes. They are divided into two major categories: 1. Periodical Volumes; 2. Calligrapher Volumes. Each category is organized into ten sections based on the era, with additional sections for Seal Engraving, Treatises, Appendices, and Supplements.
Periodical Volumes include works such as oracle bone inscriptions, bronze inscriptions, bamboo slips, silk documents, pottery and brick inscriptions, steles, epitaphs, carved stones, cliff inscriptions, sculptures, and Buddhist manuscripts from the Shang and Zhou dynasties to the Song dynasty and earlier. These works are classified and organized chronologically.
Calligrapher Volumes are divided into three types:
- Class A volumes feature works by a single calligrapher.
- Class B volumes feature works by two to four calligraphers.
- Class C volumes feature works by multiple calligraphers from a specific period.
The table of contents for each volume, excluding the preface and general index, follows the two categories of volume organization.
Periodical Volumes include:
- Color illustrations of original artifacts or rubbings
- General introductions and specialized essays
- Plate illustrations
- Explanations of plates
- Chronological tables
- Maps showing the distribution of artifacts and works unearthed
- Main references and bibliographies
- Plate index
Calligrapher Volumes include:
- Calligrapher portraits (for Class A volumes)
- Color illustrations of original calligraphy or selected works
- Biographical essays and specialized essays on calligraphers
- General introductions to calligraphy of specific periods (for Class C volumes)
- Plate illustrations
- Explanations of plates
- Selected annotations on calligraphers' theories
- Chronological tables of calligraphers
- Maps showing the calligraphers' travels
- Main references
- Plate index
In Class A calligrapher volumes, supplementary volumes feature relatives and disciples of the calligrapher to clarify mutual influences.
The Appendices include:
- Chronological table of Chinese calligraphy (with name and work indexes)
- Illustrated history of calligraphy in minority scripts
- Illustrated history of calligraphy overseas
- Illustrated history of the Four Treasures of the Study (brush, ink, paper, and inkstone)
Supplementary volumes contain important works that could not be included in the main body of the book. All maps in the book are based on The Historical Atlas of China, edited by Tan Qixiang. The entire book is printed in traditional characters to avoid confusion between ancient and modern scripts.