Chen Hengke

Chen Shizeng

Chen Shizeng (March 12, 1876 - September 17, 1923), male, formerly known as Hengke, is a famous artist and art educator in Yining, Jiangxi Province.

Chen Shizeng was a scholar. His grandfather was Chen Baozhen, governor of Hunan Province, and his father was Chen Sanli, a famous poet. He went to Japan to study in 1902 and returned to China in 1909 as director of Jiangxi education. From February 1911 to April 1913, he was invited by Zhang Jian of Nantong to teach in Tongzhou normal school (now Nantong normal school), specializing in Museum courses. In 1913, he went to Changsha First Normal University as a teacher, and later to Beijing as an editor. He has also been a professor of Beijing Women's Normal University, Beijing Normal University and Beijing fine arts school. In September 1923, he returned to Nanjing for his mother's death. Unfortunately, he fell ill and died at the age of 47.

Life of the characters

1876 (the second year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of Qing Dynasty) 1 year old

He was born in Fenghuang County, Hunan Province on March 12. She was named Shizeng and Hengke. Later, she was named immortal Taoist and Huaitang. His grandfather, Chen Baozhen, was a famous reformer in the late Qing Dynasty. He was the official Minister of the Ministry of war and the governor of Hunan. Father Chen Sanli, the word Bo Yan, the number of San Yuan. Qing Jinshi, an official to the Ministry of official affairs, is a famous poet.

1880 (Gengchen in the sixth year of qingguangxu) 5 years old

His grandfather, Chen Baozhen, moved from Changsha, Hunan Province to Hebei Road, Henan Province. His mother, Roche, died.

In 1883 (the ninth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty), he was 8 years old

The whole family moved to Hangzhou with Chen Baozhen.

1886 (the 12th year of Qing Dynasty) 11 years old

Chen Baozhen dismissed from office and his family returned to Changsha. Follow Yin Hebo (Jinyang) to learn painting.

1894 (the 20th year of Guangxu reign of Qing Dynasty) 19 years old

Chen Baozhen served as the governor of Hubei Province and moved to Wuchang. From Zhou Dali and fan Zhonglin, they studied poetry and calligraphy. Dong married the daughter of fan KENTANG.

In 1895, he was 20 years old

The eldest son can be born.

1898 (1898), 23 years old

Chen Baoxu's reform failed, and Chen Baoxu's reform failed. Chen Sanli and his family settled in Nanjing. Chen Shizeng was admitted to the mining railway school attached to Jiangnan Lu Shi school.

In 1901 (the 27th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of Qing Dynasty), Xin Chou was 26 years old

Transfer to Shanghai French church school to study foreign language.

In 1902, renyin was 27 years old

He went to Japan to study with his second younger brother Chen Yinke. He first studied natural history in Tokyo Hongwen college, and then entered higher normal school.

In 1910 (the second year of Xuantong in Qing Dynasty), he was 35 years old

Return home. First worked in Jiangxi education department, and soon transferred to Jiangsu Nantong normal school. He studied painting from Wu Changshuo.

In 1912, Renzi was 37 years old

Translation of the recent situation of Western painting.

In 1913, he was 38 years old

Applied to Changsha Hunan First Normal School. In the autumn of the same year, he went to Beijing as editor of the Ministry of education and concurrently as a museum teacher of Beijing Normal University and Beijing Women's normal university.

1916 (the fifth year of the Republic of China) 41 years old

He is a teacher of traditional Chinese painting in Beijing Normal University.

In 1917, Ding Si was 42 years old

Meet Qi Baishi.

1918 (Wu Wu of the seventh year of the Republic of China) 43 years old

Applied for the Chinese painting tutor of Peking University Painting Research Association.

In 1919, he was 44 years old

He is a professor of traditional Chinese painting in many fine arts schools in Beijing.

In 1920, he was 45 years old

Together with Zhou Zhaoxiang, he launched the "Chinese Painting Research Association". He published some articles in painting magazine, such as the school of landscape painting in Qing Dynasty, the school of flower painting in Qing Dynasty, and the changes of Chinese figure painting. The book of old paintings was published.

In 1921 (Xinyou, the tenth year of the Republic of China), he was 46 years old

Published the value of literati painting. A study of Chinese literati painting was published.

1922 (the 11th year of the Republic of China) 47 years old

At the invitation of Japanese painters, he went to Japan to participate in the Sino Japanese painting exhibition.

1923 (12 years of the Republic of China) 48 years old

On September 17, he died in Nanjing.

Family members

Chen Shizeng was born in Yining, Jiangxi Province (now Xiushui, Jiangxi Province). The Chen family in Yining has a long history, which is after the title of "honoring the Chen family in Yimen" written by Emperor Zhaozong of Tang Dynasty. Chen Shizeng's ancestors moved to Yining, Jiangxi Province to settle down in the Kangxi and Yongzheng periods of the Qing Dynasty. After several generations of painstaking efforts, the Chen family, as Hakka residents, gradually established itself in Yining and became local celebrities with scholarly family. Among them, Chen Shizeng's grandfather Chen Baozhen, his father Chen Sanli, his younger brother Chen Yinke and his second son Chen fenghuai are worth recording.

Best friend

In the early years of the Republic of China in Beijing, the trend of Jinshi calligraphy and painting flourished. There were Lake society founded by Jincheng and others, Chinese Painting Research Society initiated by Zhou Zhaoxiang and others, and Academy of fine arts. A group of scholars and artists of Jinshi calligraphy and painting gathered. They discussed Art and exchanged painting skills with Chen Shizeng, either as colleagues of art school or as intimate friends in the painting circle. Chen Shizeng, with his magnanimous enthusiasm, rich and profound knowledge and tolerant attitude towards art, soon became a central figure in Beijing's culture and art circle. He played multiple roles in modern history. He was not only a progressive literati, but also a creative painter and a knowledgeable bole. In Chen Shizeng's circle of friends, many of them were important figures in modern history.

Lu Xun

As early as his youth, Chen Shizeng and Lu Xun were classmates in the mining and railway school, and later studied in Japan. Lu Xun organized the magazine "Xinsheng" in Tokyo. He was an active supporter and sponsor. After returning to China, they worked together again. The pursuit of new knowledge and new ideas is the foundation of their lifelong friendship. They have close contacts, go shopping together, buy ancient books and rubbings. Chen Shizeng presented Lu Xun with many paintings and engraved them, and invited Lu Xun to appreciate his paintings and calligraphy. Among the works of modern Chinese painters in Lu Xun's collection, Chen Shizeng's is the most (there are 10 mentions in Lu Xun's diary that Chen Shizeng presented paintings, and 9 of the 10 present paintings are kept in Lu Xun Memorial in Beijing).

Li Shutong

In 1906, Li Shutong, a famous modern painter and master Hongyi after he converted to Buddhism, met Chen Shizeng in Japan. They shared the same interests and became friends at first sight. They discussed their understanding and opinions on poetry, painting, calligraphy and seal cutting. After they returned home, they still kept in touch with each other. In 1911, Li Shutong wrote a biography for Chen Shizeng, and Chen Shizeng also printed several works for Li Shutong. In the autumn of 1918, before becoming a monk in Hangzhou, Li Shutong presented more than ten kinds of folk arts and crafts to his friend Chen Shizeng as a memorial. In the following year, Chen Shizeng painted these gifts into a banner entitled "Xizhai toys" (Li Shutong used the signature of "xiweng") and hung them in his room to show that he did not forget his old friends.

Qi Baishi

In Chen Shizeng's life-long contacts, his origin with Qi Baishi is most praised. It can be said that Qi Baishi's fame and achievements are largely due to Chen Shizeng's help and support. Qi Baishi came to Beijing from Hunan Province for the first time and made a living by selling paintings and engraving. However, his painting style was not popular and his business was lonely. Chen Shizeng saw Qi Baishi's engraving in the South paper shop of Liulichang. He went out of his way to find Qi Baishi's residence. He discussed the art with him and put forward pertinent suggestions. At the same time, he encouraged Qi Baishi to create his own style. He didn't need to flatter the secular. Qi Baishi was greatly inspired by his words in adversity. In his opinion, making friends with Chen Shizeng is a memorable event in his life. Qi Baishi's reform of declining years and his creation of the painting of red flowers and ink leaves were all influenced by Chen Shizeng. Qi Baishi said that "if you don't have me, you can't enter, if you don't have me, you can't leave.". Chen Shizeng's magnanimous sincerity and Qi Baishi's open mindedness leave a good story for the art world. In 1922, at the invitation of Japanese painters, Chen Shizeng went to Japan to participate in the Sino Japanese painting exhibition. In this exhibition, Qi Baishi's paintings, which he brought to the exhibition, were highly praised and made a sensation at home and abroad.

Main achievements

Painting art

Chen Shizeng devoted all his life to the creation of traditional Chinese painting, and his experience of studying in Japan made him have considerable contact and Research on Western painting. He had painted a small number of western paintings, so he had his own originality in the observation of things and the application of painting techniques, which formed his own artistic style. His paintings cover a wide range of subjects, including landscapes, flowers and birds, figures and customs.

Flower painting

Chen Shizeng's flowers are directly from Wu Changshuo, so his flowers obviously have Wu's appearance and spirit style. Xu Wei, Chen Chun, Badashan people, Shi Tao and "Yangzhou Eight monsters" all have dabbled in it, and he has integrated the techniques for his own use. He does not specially highlight the characteristics of a certain school in his writing. He is free and unrestrained in his creation. Chen Shizeng broke away from the barriers and formed his own painting style of implicitness and elegance, simplicity but not coarseness, boldness but moving charm, which was greatly appreciated by Wu Changshuo. The composition of Chen Shizeng's paintings is changeable and the form is novel. The materials of the works are not only the traditional broken flowers, but also the scenery around the scene, which seems to be handy and unrestrained.

Landscape painting

In his study of landscape painting, Chen Shizeng tried to avoid the influence of modern times, especially the "four kings" school, and even held a firm attitude against it. He made great efforts to restore the excellent tradition of "learning from nature" in Chinese painting, and absorbed the characteristics of Western landscape painting, breaking through the bad habit of stylized landscape painting. He emphasizes the use of pen in landscape painting, even if the texturing method is pure use of center pen

Chinese PinYin : Chen Heng Ke