The Paper learned that Mr. Shen Dingan, a well-known calligrapher, passed away in the early morning of January 25, 2023 (the fourth day of the first lunar month) due to the epidemic, at the age of 96.
Shen Ding'an advocates learning from the ancients but not imitating the ancients.
Shen Ding'an was Xu Shengweng's disciple when he was more than a few years old, and he was also the only disciple of Mr. Xu.
He once said, "Teaching from the ancients is more about learning from their persistent exploration of art, rather than a stroke of advice."
Shen Ding'an, born on February 1, 1927, Xiaoshan, a native of Shaoxing, Zhejiang, is a master of contemporary official script. He was trained in calligraphy and painting at a young age. He was encouraged by Mr. Xu Shengweng, a master of calligraphy and painting in Yizhong, to practice calligraphy at the age of six.
In the early years, he was taught by Feng Lingyun and Lin Zhongke, and he was taught by Xu Shengweng later.
Xue Shu compiles the monuments of the Han and Wei Dynasties, and is good at collecting and accumulating.
He is good at a variety of calligraphy styles, especially the official script. His writing is majestic and beautiful, majestic and smooth, strong and strong, and vivid.
Shen Ding'an is the author of "Selected Works of Shen Ding'an's Calligraphy", "Two Kinds of Shen Ding'an's Official Script", "Calligraphy Collection of Shen Ding'an", "Ding'an's Essays" and the updated version, "Biography of Shaoxing Calligraphers and Painters in the Past Hundred Years", "Twentieth Century Calligraphy Classics Xu Shengweng Volume", "Xu Shengweng Mr. Calligraphy and Painting Art", "Chronology of Mr. Xu Shengweng", "Shen Huashan Calligraphy and Painting Collection", "Yi Bingshou Shu Guangxiao Temple Yu Zhongxiang Temple Monument", etc.
Calligraphy works are collected by Zhongnanhai, Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, Palace Museum, National Art Museum of China, Liaoning Provincial Museum, Zhejiang Art Museum, etc.
Shen Dingan served as the second director of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, the first vice chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Calligraphers Association, and the president of the Lanting Book Association.
He is currently a researcher at the Painting and Calligraphy Institute of the Central Research Institute of Literature and History, a librarian of the Zhejiang Provincial Research Institute of Literature and History, a member of Xiling Yinshe, a consultant of Zhejiang Calligraphers Association, an advisory member of Zhejiang Buddhist Association, and a member of the first to seventh sessions of the Shaoxing CPPCC.
In 2021, he was awarded the honorary title of "Lifetime Achievement Calligrapher by China Federation of Literary and Art Circles".
Shen Ding'an was Xu Shengweng's disciple when he was more than a few years old, and he was also the only disciple of Mr. Xu.
Shen Ding'an was already a young man when he started, but their teacher-student relationship can be traced back to earlier.
He recalled in an interview with the media, "When I was 6 years old, Mr. Xu saw a few words that my father ordered me to write on his painting in the living room of my house, and asked who made this body?" Shen Dingan recalled Well, Mr. Xu told my father that this child needs to be taught well, and he can achieve some achievements in the future.
"Probably because the crooked characters I wrote at that time and his 'crazy' characters have a kind of natural charm."
But later, Shen Ding'an and his teacher had two completely different styles in brush and ink and calligraphy.
Calligraphy master Sha Menghai once commented: "There is a Wang Quchang in Shanghai, and his handwriting is not like his teacher Shen Meisou. You two are typical."
"I learned from Xu, not only the art of calligraphy, but also the character." Shen Ding'an advocates learning from the ancients but not imitating the ancients.
"When I was young, Yi Bingshou's works were almost authentic. After long and repeated tempering, when the time is ripe, I will 'betray' them one by one." He once said that innovation is the life of a calligrapher, and he must form his own style face.
Learning from the ancients is more about learning from their persistent exploration of art, rather than a stroke of advice.
The Paper Zong He