Shang Yanliu, Shang Chengzuo's "Ode to Righteousness"

Author: Editorial Group of the Series
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: Shang Chengzuo, styled Xiyong, was known as Qizhai. He was a native of Panyu, Guangdong. During his lifetime, he was a first-class professor at Sun Yat-sen University and one of the first doctoral supervisors appointed by the State Education Commission. He was a renowned expert in ancient literature, archaeology, calligraphy, cultural relic appraisal, and education, with outstanding achievements, widely respected by the academic community both domestically and internationally.
Shang Chengzuo had a passion for collecting cultural relics and used his expertise to gather them. In his later years, he advocated for "storing treasures in the nation and benefiting the nation and its people." He donated hundreds of cultural relics to institutions such as the Palace Museum, the National Museum of Chinese History, the Guangdong Museum, and the Guangdong Folk Art and Curiosity Museum. After his passing, his children followed his example by donating their own collection to the Shenzhen Museum and the Hunan Provincial Museum, demonstrating the high ideals and integrity of a collector. Their actions were recognized by the National Cultural Relics Administration, which praised Shang Chengzuo and his children for their repeated contributions of cultural relics to national museums, stating that they "made outstanding contributions to the cause of cultural relics and museums in the motherland."
Shang Chengzuo's father, Shang Yanliu, inscribed the text in regular script, with a style often reflecting the methods of Tang Dynasty calligraphers, characterized by strong strokes and a clear, elegant composition. His son, Shang Chengzuo, inscribed it in gold script, using fine, supple strokes that balanced strength and beauty. The structure was exquisite, and the calligraphy was standardized, capturing the essence of engraving. The "Song of Zheng Qi by Wen Tianxiang" was co-authored by father and son, earning the reputation that "the father was praised for his wisdom, and the son for his dedication to the study of ancient traditions."
The publication of this facsimile edition provides an excellent model for calligraphy enthusiasts to study regular script and gold script, as well as to understand the calligraphy of Chinese scholars.