On the afternoon of February 24th, Professor Zhu Tianshu, a visiting professor at Peking University's School of Humanities, a distinguished professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, a doctoral supervisor at Beijing Language University, executive director of the International Communication Research Institute of Chinese Calligraphy, director of the Chinese Calligraphy Seal Engraving Research Institute, and a member of the Council and Academic Committee of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, delivered a thematic lecture titled "The Door to Mastery: The Artistic World of Qi Baishi" at the Three Lecture Hall of Hunan University of Technology. Over three hundred representatives from various schools, students from Tangzhou Academy's Qi Baishi Art Research Class, and others attended the lecture. Professor Zhang Guihua, Vice President of the university, presided over the lecture.

Before the lecture, Vice President Zhang Guihua presented the appointment letter of Chief Professor to Professor Zhu Tianshu on behalf of the university, extending a warm welcome.

Tracing Baishi: A Grand and Eventful Life

During the lecture, Professor Zhu Tianshu used presentation slides to vividly guide the audience through important exhibitions and academic research activities related to Qi Baishi's artistic creations held worldwide in recent years, revealing the infinite charm of Qi Baishi's art.

Subsequently, Professor Zhu Tianshu, under the theme "Tracing Baishi—From Carpenter to Master," provided a lively narrative of Qi Baishi's extraordinary life in eight aspects: "Village Boy, Pupil, Apprentice" (before the age of 20), "Seeking Learning from Masters, Entering the Cultural Circle of Gentry" (1888-1902), "Five Departures and Returns, Family Education and Traveling" (1902-1909), "Residing in the Quietness of Jiping Hall" (1909-1916), "Escape to Beijing during the Calamity of Ding-Si" (1917-1919), "Declining Years and Artistic Transformation" (around 1919-1927, 55-63 years old), "Artist's Livelihood and Teaching Career," and "The Last Brilliance" (1949-1957, 85-93 years old).

Baishi's Art: Embracing Tradition Without Being Constrained

Qi Baishi painted over 70 varieties of flowers and plants, 36 types of vegetables and fruits, 15 types of trees, 51 types of fish and insects, 31 types of birds, 13 types of animals, over 30 types of tools and utensils, and more than 50 types of characters and deities, including 34 named landscapes. Professor Zhu Tianshu explained that Qi Baishi's artistic inspiration primarily stemmed from the "experiential world," "daring to create independently," "affection for the hometown," and "expressing life." Through the presentation slides, he showcased a large number of Qi Baishi's artworks, vividly demonstrating the extraordinary poeticism and demeanor of Qi Baishi as a great artist.

According to Professor Zhu Tianshu, Qi Baishi's seal carving style drew from Ding Jing, Zhao Zhiqian, Qin and Han Dynasty seals, Qin edicts, and seal mud. His seal engraving started from seal script, favoring a combination of strength and elegance, emphasizing the variation of density, lightness and heaviness, squareness and roundness in character structures. Qi Baishi stressed the rational arrangement of characters and the relationship between characters and the edge of the seal. Regarding character structure, he aimed for the pursuit of "no other seal method" before perfection. In terms of composition, he drew inspiration from Zhao Zhiqian, enhancing contrasts, adept at leaving red imprints, creating a strong visual impact with the contrast between red and white. In the carving process, Qi Baishi used a unique technique, often using a single-edged blade straight down, with one side sharp and smooth, and the other side allowed to naturally break.

Regarding calligraphy, Qi Baishi's style was influenced by He Shaoji, Jin Nong, Li Yong, Wei steles, Sangong Mountain steles, Qin edicts, Er Cuan, and others. However, he "embraced tradition without being constrained by it," forming his own unique style that attracted high attention from the public, making him a great and outstanding national artist.

Studying Baishi: Achieving in Multiple Dimensions

As a third-generation disciple of Qi Baishi, Professor Zhu Tianshu holds great admiration for Qi Baishi, a representative figure in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving, a representative calligrapher of modern epigraphy, and a master who integrated printing from calligraphy. He detailed the origins of his study on Qi Baishi, as well as his academic achievements in research topics such as the relationship between Qi Baishi's calligraphy and the Qing Dynasty epigraphic school, the formation and style of Qi Baishi's seal engraving art, and the historical origins and changes of Qi Baishi's art.

How did Qi Baishi become a master? Professor Zhu Tianshu summarized it into six factors: extraordinary talent, the craftsmanship of a worker combined with the sentiments of a literati, the creation of a cultural environment from learning from ancient scholars to relationships with mentors and friends, the versatility and creativity of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal engraving, social interaction and business activities, diligence, tranquility of mind, and longevity. Professor Zhu Tianshu believed that outstanding achievements come from the organic combination of innate and acquired factors. He encouraged the students present to cherish the opportunities of the times, build solid skills, strengthen physical exercise, and strive to become better versions of themselves.

The dynamic lecture, spanning nearly three hours, concluded amid enthusiastic applause. After the lecture, Professor Zhu Tianshu engaged in interactive discussions with students and answered questions from student representatives about Qi Baishi's artistic seal engraving methods, notable aspects to learn from Qi Baishi, and related academic research. He expressed that the study and learning of Qi Baishi is an ongoing journey and encouraged everyone to learn from various sources, develop their own style, and through active efforts and hard work, make their life journey stable and far-reaching.