Nine Gates

Time：2024-09-29 11:31:12

1. The naming of the nine gates implies a sequence from one to nine, covering philosophy, politics, economics, culture, military, and other categories.

2. The names of the nine gates are independent yet interconnected.

The First Gate, named "Fushi Gate" ( Wu Ran, famous printmaker), is derived from "Yiyuan Fushi," meaning "the beginning of a new cycle" or "a fresh start." It symbolizes the commencement of endeavors.

Wu Ran (1928-), from Xiaoxian County, Suzhou, Anhui Province, joined the army in 1949 and served as a member of the army's cultural troupe, art editor, and creative writer. In 1959, he transferred to Baihua Literary and Art Publishing House in Tianjin as an art editor. In 1963, he was transferred to the Tianjin Branch of the Chinese Artists' Association to engage in professional creation. In 1980, he transferred to Tianjin Painting Academy as a professional painter. He is a member of the Chinese Artists' Association, the councilor of the China Printmakers Association, the vice chairman of the Tianjin Artists' Association, and a first-class artist at Tianjin Painting Academy.

The Second and Third Gates are named "Tongxin Gate" (famous calligrapher) and "Sixing Gate" ( famous calligrapher), respectively, derived from "Erren Tongxin" (two people of one mind) and "Sansihouxing" (think before you act), emphasizing unity and careful consideration in action, which are crucial attitudes for achieving success.

Ouyang Zhongshi (1928-), born in Feicheng, Tai'an, Shandong Province, graduated from Peking University. He is currently a professor and doctoral supervisor at Capital Normal University, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, advisor to the China Calligraphers' Association, member of the board of directors of the Chinese Painting Research Institute, and member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and History. His calligraphy learning began with Master Wu Yan and later followed Wu Yuru. Starting with Tang Dynasty inscriptions, he soon switched to copying Northern Wei Dynasty epitaphs; later, he also explored seal script, clerk script, oracle bone script, and bronze script, with the most diligent practice being on the inscriptions of Ouyang Xun. He mainly writes running script, following the style of the Wangs (Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi). His cursive script is based on Wang Xizhi and Sun Guoqing. His calligraphy style is graceful, beautiful, smooth, and lively, possessing both the beauty of script learning and the grandeur of inscription learning.

Zhou Huijun (1939-), born in Zhenhai, Zhejiang Province, served as chairman of the Shanghai Calligraphers' Association, vice chairman of the China Calligraphers' Association, vice chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and first-class artist at Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy. She is currently an advisor to the China Calligraphers' Association. In 1962, she participated in the Shanghai Youth Palace Calligraphy Learning Class and received personal instruction from renowned calligraphers such as Shen Yinmo, Gong Delin, and Weng Kaiyun. She studied regular script under Ouyang Xun, Yan Zhenqing, and Zhu Suiliang, and traced back to Northern Wei Dynasty inscriptions; her running and cursive scripts began with the Song Four Masters and traced back to the Wangs. Her calligraphy style is vigorous, smooth, and brisk, with a unique style.

The Fourth Gate, named "Sifang Gate" (famous calligrapher), signifies "having ambitions everywhere" or "making a career everywhere."

Liu Bingsen (August 1937 - February 15, 2005), styled Shuan'an and hailed as Haicun, nicknamed himself Liuwu Scholar in his youth. In the summer of 1962, he graduated from the Chinese Landscape Painting Department of the Fine Arts Department of Beijing Art Institute. In the same autumn, he went to the Forbidden City Museum in Beijing to engage in the copying, reproduction, and research of ancient legal scripts and paintings until today. He has served as a researcher at the Forbidden City Museum, vice chairman of the China Calligraphers' Association, vice chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, vice president of the China Buddhist Association, standing committee member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, chairman of the Calligraphy Education Professional Committee of the China Education Association, special professor of the China Calligraphy and Painting Correspondence University, advisor to the Japan White Fan Calligraphy Association, advisor to the Japan Calligraphy Research Spring Association, and member of the China-Japan Friendship 21st Century Committee. His Liu-style clerk script has had a wide influence.

The Fifth and Sixth Gates are named "Fengdeng Gate" ( famous calligrapher) and "Taolüe Gate" (Wang Ke, former member of the Central Military Commission and Minister of Logistics), derived from "Wugu Fengdeng" (a good harvest of five cereals) and "Liu Tao San Lue" (the Six Secret Strategies and the Three Strategies), respectively, symbolizing sufficient provisions for logistical support and military prowess for strategic planning, which are basic conditions for success.

Qi Gong (July 26, 1912 - June 30, 2005), a Chinese calligrapher and calligraphy appraisal expert. His courtesy name was Yuanbo, alternatively Yuanbai. He was of the Manchu ethnicity and a ninth-generation descendant of Emperor Yongzheng. He excelled in the study of classical literature and paleography and taught at Furen University. After 1949, he served as a professor at Beijing Normal University, consultant at the Forbidden City Museum, chairman of the National Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee, chairman of the China Calligraphers' Association, executive director of the China Buddhist Association, and other positions. He authored "Ancient Font Theory Draft," "Poetry and Prosody Theory Draft," "Qi Gong's Collection," "A Hundred Quatrains on Calligraphy," and published "Qi Gong's Calligraphy and Painting Collection" and various calligraphy anthologies. He passed away on June 30, 2005, at the age of 93 due to illness.

Wang Ke, male, Han nationality, born in August 1931 in Xiaoxian County, Anhui Province, joined the Communist Party of China in 1947 and joined the work in August 1944. He holds a university degree and graduated from the Correspondence Class for Leaders of the Central Party School's Economics and Management Major. He served as a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, a member of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, a member of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China, the Minister of the General Logistics Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and held the rank of general.

The Seventh and Eighth Gates are named "Tianshu Gate" ( famous calligrapher, he also inscribed the signboard of the Central Party School) and "Doucai Gate" ( Deng Weizhi, sociologist), derived from "Beidou's Seven Stars" and "Bagou Zhicai," respectively, symbolizing the fulfillment of wishes and the need for both martial and cultural achievements after success, which are strategic paths for pushing endeavors to their peak and ensuring stable development.

Sun Boxiang, male, born on October 4, 1934, in Wuqing County, Tianjin, styled Zhenyu and also known as the Master of Shiwei Studio. He is a modern calligrapher. He is currently a councilor of the China Calligraphers' Association, a member of the Creation and Evaluation Committee of the China Calligraphers' Association, a professor at the China Calligraphy Academy, a member of the Tianjin Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and vice chairman of the Tianjin Calligraphers' Association. He has published "Sun Boxiang's Calligraphy Collection."

Deng Weizhi, male, Han nationality, professor, born in November 1938 in Xiaoxian County, Anhui Province. He is currently a professor in the Sociology Department of Shanghai University, president of the Shanghai Sociological Society, and advisor to the China Sociological Association. He graduated from the Economics Department of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences in 1960. He has worked in the Mao Zedong Thought Study Room, Research Room, Political Research Room of the CPC East China Bureau, Encyclopedia of China Shanghai Branch, and the International Politics Office of the Information Institute of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, successively serving as a research trainee, editor, senior editor, and researcher.

The Ninth Gate, named "Lanyue Gate" (famous calligrapher), is derived from "Jiutian Lanyue," meaning "reaching the sky to pluck the moon," symbolizing the joy of successful endeavors and the of a victor.

Wei Tianchi (1936.4-) is a native of Dangshan County, Anhui Province. He is a member of the Communist Party of China. He graduated from the Chinese Department of Nanjing Normal University in July 1960 and began to teach calligraphy in the Art Department of Nanjing Normal School (now Nanjing Normal University) in September 1960. He was promoted to professor of calligraphy in April 1986. He was once a specially-appointed professor of calligraphy in 1986 by the Ministry of Education of Japan and taught in the Department of Calligraphy, National Aichi Education University. Since 1985, he has served as a graduate tutor for master's degree in calligraphy and a tutor for Japanese students studying calligraphy in China. He successively studied under Mr. Shen Zishan and Lin Sanzhi. His calligraphy covers seal script, clerk script, cursive script, regular script, and running script, with a particular proficiency in running and cursive scripts. His style of calligraphy is vigorous and powerful, unrestrained and bold, elegant and unique. His works have been exhibited many times at national calligraphy exhibitions and international exchange exhibitions. He is currently the advisor of the China Calligraphers Association and the chairman of the Jiangsu Calligraphers Association.