Lin Xiu's paintings are from right to left.

In a lecture at the National Academy of Painting, two Anhui students asked, "Does painting have to go from right to left?". The author asks why there is this problem. Students said that sometimes after painting, they found that the inscription space reserved at the upper right was occupied by the picture, and they didn't know where to write the title at the upper left, so it was very troublesome to count the number of words. Just write from the far left to the far right, afraid of making a joke without precedent, and ask if there are any rules.

Answer: There are habits, but there are no rules. The most common is "right first and then left (also known as right to left)", that is, write the rightmost line first, and each line is left; The processing of signature seal is on the far left. "Left first and then right (also called left to right)" is just the opposite of "right first and then left", which has existed since ancient times. Although it is rare, it does not mean that it does not exist.

During the Cultural Revolution, some people suggested that "right before left is feudal reaction" and insisted on "left before right", which is neither fish nor fowl. As a result, it is hard for everyone to accept, and it is still dominated by "right first and then left". Saying "priority" is not empty talk; Because we can't be too absolute, "first left and then right" does exist, and it is useless to oppose it.

It is true that some paintings in traditional paintings are treated in the way of "first left and then right", which the author does not take for granted. There are paintings in ancient and modern times as evidence.

1998, at a seminar on Chinese paintings by a painter who went to Beijing, the author gave an inscription in two forms: "First right, then left" and "First left, then right". At the meeting, someone immediately questioned that "I haven't heard of writing left first and then right". The author had to stop speaking and ask everyone, "Do you remember Tang Yin's famous painting" Autumn Fan Map "? Remember to draw the poem on the top left? Is the title line' first right and then left' or' first left and then right'? "

Because Tang Yin's Autumn Fan Map is a famous painting, most people in the painting and calligraphy circle can see it at a glance, and the answer should be clear enough to prove that there are indeed two forms.

Tang Yin's poem is a wonderful poem, and all the poems and books are wonderful: "Qiu Lai's Wan Fan is a collection, so why should beauty be sentimental?" Please look closely at the world. Most people don't drive away the cold? "Signature" Jinchang Tang Yin ",engraved with two lines from left to right, with all seals on the right line. The top right of the picture is completely blank. If only Tang Yin had chosen to paint in the upper right; Since I chose the picture on the left, it doesn't matter if I left first and then right. The whole scenery is natural, and no one is surprised.

The "five-ancestor statue" of Muxi in Song Dynasty (collected nine times in Maeyama, Japan) is also a powerful proof of "first left and then right".

The only figure in the painting is Wu Zu Shu Jing and a hoe. His clothes and lines are very simple and vivid. There is a long and short sentence at the top of the picture, "white hair is drooping and clothes are in rags." The reincarnation does not choose people, and it is wrong to enter Jiangtou Road. Blunt without a front, loose with a son, broken head and rain. "Even the books are eight lines, from left to right, absolutely."

Things in the world, mostly from scratch, are nothing more than the nature of God and genius. Looking at it from another angle, can't people start today without Melilotus and Tang Yin? Besides, there are always exceptions to the law, which can only go from right to left, not from left to right? Many things in the world can be strange, not strange. "Precedent" is not innate, it is also initiated by boldness and promising. As long as it is done well, some people recognize it; Nothing, you can have it.

Of course, not all firsts are good, but they can be passed down. Historical waves wash sand, wash sand to save gold, but also depends on the final victory. This is the law of the existence of art. Since it happened in history, you should know. I don't know, as a descendant, if you don't feel that regret has lost face, why do you lie and say nothing? After all, history provides a valuable reference and way, and future generations are lucky; As for how to inherit and change, it is the inheritor's own nature.

Names and characters are good and bad.

A few days ago, I talked about Da Zhongguang, but there seems to be some unfinished business. Today, I chatted with the graduate students in our college and found that the surname "Wan" has something to do with other things. The more I feel the meaning of Chinese language is particularly profound.

Say the word "water" first. The word sounds like "Tatar". In the Qing dynasty, it was easy to interpret the implied meaning of mocking "Tatars", which may have violated the taboo of the Qing royal family. During the Shunzhi period, Da Zhongguang was almost forced to change his surname after having obtained the provincial examination. This is the problem.

Before the exam, Da Zhongguang suddenly dreamed of his father. His father warned him in advance: "Your surname was written by a scholar in Chaotian Palace. Why don't you make an appointment?" When I woke up, I was puzzled by what my father said. At the end of the day, I had the same dream again, and it became more and more strange. I threw a thorn at the Heavenly Palace (that is, the name of the thorn, similar to today's business card). After meeting Shi Yu, they had a good talk. If we are lifelong friends, we will never lose sight of each other. And in September, the author wrote the list, which happened to be a feather scholar of Chaotian Palace. Roll call to Da Zhongguang, the pronunciation of "water" is obviously taboo, so Yu Shi immediately put pen to paper. The invigilator (invigilator at the test center) is not deaf, but frowned at the sound. He blamed his surname for being homophonic with the word "Tatar", which violated the taboo of the dynasty. Da Zhongguang had to change his surname, and the messenger agreed. Fortunately, Yu Shi was alert and said, "His name has been compiled (the list has been written)." The invigilator shouted at him, "Do you know how to write this word?" Yu Shi's answer is very clever. He replied: "Bamboo denier ear (just adding a denier to the bamboo prefix)". "Everyone chimed in:" Life also! "I won't pursue this matter. After passing the "close call" barrier, Da Zhongguang became more and more cautious. After more than a year, he won the Jinshi and later became an official in the imperial palace.

Before the exam, whether Da Zhongguang really dreamed of his father, of course, can't be verified, what's more, there is another story at the end of the dream in ancient books. In the author's view, the dream-containing brushwork, nominally called "replacing reality with emptiness", has become a method to clean up chronicles. So, make friends with Shi Yu first, and the relationship will be settled. When the supervisor forced him to change his surname, Shi Yu used the word "Dani II" to dial a thousand pounds, which means that he saved Da Zhongguang from a narrow escape, which is equivalent to saving the surname of the world. His father has a dream, whether you believe it or not. Anyway, everything is done by luck, which can be attributed to dreams showing great power. But with this embellishment, it creates a mysterious atmosphere, makes people remember the surname "water", and naturally makes them a talented good man.

The first face of a literate person is his name. When he was told, his words and meaning were taboo. If he is all thumbs and can't understand the circle, then he is sharing weal and woe, or suffering for life. The opening ceremony was well played with gongs and drums, followed the current, was quick-witted and resourceful, and was lucky to have crossed the first dangerous beach in my career.

Wu Yuanxiang, a litterateur in Qing Dynasty, whose name is very expensive, is bound to make dignitaries unhappy. Because "Yuan Xiang" is a good name for "Prime Minister", which means the head of a hundred officials, Zi Jian has the sentence "Yuan Xiang is the heaviest and Fu is the most respected", which is well known to all intellectuals. A scholar, bold, took the first place among the "hundred officials" before entering the meeting, which was disgusting. He decided to "refute the volume and not record it". From then on, his career was hopeless and there was no way to complain. After the roll call, the examiner was really angry and asked for the roll call. Wu Yuanxiang took his time and replied with a smile: "Yuan, it was also. Yuan Xiang (the original phase), I am from Chu. Wu Tou Chu Wei Er (the name of this book is just' Wu Tou Chu Wei') ",humorous in place, good at explaining the situation, the examiner laughed forward and backward, and saved the day.

It's a little obscure to say that "Yuan is a primitive man" because it comes from "Yuan is still a primitive man" in "Spring and Autumn Stories Concerned about Politics", and a famous sentence by Jong Li, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, "Poor households are lazy to love peace, and they want to sing when they are sick" should be unforgettable and unmistakable to Wu Yuanxiang whose name is "Yuan". In addition, in the early Ming Dynasty, people were disrespectful to the former dynasty and taboo to call it "Yuan", and changed all "Yuanlai, Yuanji" to "Yuan, Yuan and Native Place". Therefore, it is not surprising that Wu Yuanxiang knows that "Yuan is also original". Just a brainwave, the "Wu surname crown, Chu people follow" became "Wu Tou Chu Wei". Understanding is good for saving, which is a self-deprecating thing, and that is not a person.

Coincidentally, it's not a book.

Wu Yuanxiang, the author of Song Yan Tan, recorded in the book that Yun (nicknamed Xiaozhai, Pucheng) made a fool of himself in public because of misreporting his name, which was contrary to the author's understanding of his name.

At that time, Wang Yun was chosen as a magistrate by a rare opportunity. When the official department called the roll, it repeatedly called "Wang Yun (sound beam)", but Wang Yun should not. After singing it once, Wang leaned down and said, "This county is famous for its clouds, and it is called' Jing', and it is called' Liang'. I dare not listen." The official said with a smile, "Jun Deng Jinshi doesn't know his name?" Cloud "is the rope that ties the crown, which was called" Liang "in ancient times, so the word book only has the sound of" Liang ". Your one-sided view is wrong. "Wang Yun quit, leaving a laughing stock.

This word is related to the knowledge of Chinese characters, so scholars must be cautious. Rhyme, a disyllabic word, is similar to "truth" (Yin Huan, that is, ribbon; Yin Geng, that is, rope), "compose" (sound drop, suture connection; Stop the sound, stop the lag), "ho" (sound response, that is, constraint; Sound, that is, terror) and so on. Since "Whale" can be heard from Beijing, it's "cold"? ? Judging from the sound beam, the official name of "Wang Yun (Sound Beam)" is not necessarily certain. If Wang Jinshi grasps this point, he will learn from Wu Yuanxiang and calmly answer: "How dare I be self-respecting?" ? Don't give up, I want to smell Beijing. "So modest and decent, things will change for the better, and things will not go away in despair, which makes me lose confidence before I take office.

A witty response, like a Zen master's response (also known as the skill of losing the owner), is closely related to eloquence. If there is no knowledge brewing and effective activities of creative thinking, picking extinct language, recognizing sophistry and sophistry may not be able to come back to life.

Wang Jinshi's lesson of "I don't know my name" hit the nail on the head. I can't say that officials in the official department are bullying others. After all, Wang did not solve the ambiguity of his name. Who else can blame?

To be fair, although Wu Yuanxiang's reaction was wonderful, most people expected that he would be prepared, and Wang Jinshi suddenly became more difficult. Instantaneous intellectual collision is a bit like high-energy particles produced by edge thermal effect, which needs the help of "accelerated transformation", and humor is undoubtedly the fastest and best cultural means in the paddock. Being born famous is a very realistic cultural existence. Nicknames of China people have great cultural connotations. If we only regard its interpretation as a "word game", then our understanding of China's language and culture is too superficial.

Mr. Lin Yutang said that "humor is the game of the wise", which makes sense; Wouldn't it be better to rewrite it as "humor is a cultural game for the wise"

Dai unjust case

Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, internal prisons have blackmailed and framed painters and painters, and their wrists are vicious, and they are too numerous to mention. They are called "knives can't see blood".

For example, I mistakenly taught him and ordered him to draw and write a Tang poem. After the painting and calligraphy are completed, if there is no bribe to buy paintings to "polish", the internal reference supervisor will present his paintings and calligraphy to the emperor together with the original, and then point out the fallacies and polish them aside, making the emperor unhappy, or immediately dispose of them and dismiss them; Or give small shoes, so that the rest of the students can't use them all.

Another example is that the Qing government ordered the painter to write the seven laws of Li Shangyin in the Tang Dynasty. There is a saying in the poem, "osmanthus trees are tall by day, and rue carries the breeze for three generations." The internal supervisor specially gave it a black set of "sweet-scented osmanthus trees are tall by day, and rue bears the lake wind for three generations". If the painter happens to be familiar with Li Shangyin's poems and know that it must be "breeze" to be opposite to "daytime" (that is, homophonic "green" and "white"), this is called borrowing; "Breeze" also has the meaning of praise and clarity), so I recognized that the word "lake" was a trap, and I was anxious to check the original text, and I was careful in my writing to avoid mistakes or literary disasters for the time being. Otherwise, if you delete the original word "Qing" and mispronounce it as "Hu" (with the same pronunciation as "Hu"), you will be a "bold son" and you will die if you only rely on the charges of poetry against Qing.

If a painter only practices hand skills, once he is called into the inner government, he usually has to get a "fairy guide". Whether you like it or not, you must first bribe the painting, break the money and avoid disaster, and then you can pre-sell peace.

There are ghosts on the road, so it's hard to take care of the front and back. Can't stop the painting and calligraphy at that time. Dai (180 1- 1860), a great painter and successor of "Yushan Painting School" in Qing Dynasty, was trapped in the inner prison and was dismissed from his post. This is an example.

Dai was born in Qiantang (now Hangzhou). Daoguang Jinshi, awarded editor-in-chief, official to assistant minister of the right Ministry of War. When Dai was in the south study room, he never welcomed the supervisor. The supervisor was dissatisfied and wanted to wait for an opportunity to frame him. One day, I accidentally saw the word "wrong book" in his painting, so I presented it to Xuanzong (Daoguang Emperor). Fortunately, Xuanzong appreciated Dai's paintings and calligraphy, but only "ordered the internal prison order (holding the imperial edict and letting Dai) change it". At first glance, this incident can be avoided by luck. However, the internal supervisor was insidious and deliberately did not tell Dai what was wrong with the painting, and ordered Dai to read it again with another piece of paper. Dai obeyed, and immediately "did not write a piece of paper, but mispronounced the same word", which angered Xuanzong. "I thought it was intentional", and Dai was removed from his post and dismissed from his idleness. Later, in the tenth year of Xianfeng (1860), the Taiping army captured Hangzhou. Dai thought that the national disaster was hopeless, gave him a desperate word and jumped into the pool.

Commenting on Dai's paintings and calligraphy in Qing Dynasty and Jiang's Stories, he said: "Dai's poems and calligraphy are perfect, and his paintings, among which Yue, are particularly vigorous." The evaluation is not low. However, there is no reason to be angry like a bolt from the blue. Dai has the dual identity of an official and an artist. It is certainly not easy to be an official and have artistic skills. Compared with Dai Jin (1388- 1463, a painter and calligrapher in Ming dynasty), wearing a black hat is irreplaceable in coming and going in the government and the public. Under the eaves of the palace, no matter how big the official is, he is also a servant of the page. He was sent to look him in the eye and wait on him carefully. Decided by the emperor's slave supervisor; Even if you are a good official, can you do art well?

In fact, it is not a bad thing that Dai was kicked out of idleness. This is not a bad thing. Later, he gave a lecture about the college. Maybe it is God's will to finish his poems and paintings. Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. Finally, Dai, who had just spent his life among flowers, left the scene with "martyrdom" and buried his career feelings with poems and paintings he loved all his life. Too inappropriate, too unworthy.

The next set is only a temporary injury. Dai was still a hero when he proudly left Beijing. If he specializes in poetry, calligraphy and painting, he is likely to become a new generation of masters of "Yushan Painting School". However, Dai suddenly gave up, "loyalty is gratitude, it is a net", plunged into it and finally committed suicide, alas-

After class is over, you can go into the sea and go out. Never set a trap for yourself. Setting a trap for yourself is suicide. (199665438+February 12)

The reasons for Dai's martyrdom in Qing Dynasty are well known to both the government and the public.

At that time, it was worn in the south study room and was often dedicated to calligraphy and painting. He was always eloquent before he was framed by the internal supervisor. However, Xuanzong thought that Dai's paintings lacked vitality and wanted to give him a chance to appreciate the lakes and mountains. So in the first year of Daoguang (1838), Dai was ordered to inspect Guangdong.

On the day of his farewell, Xuanzong said: "Your brush is absolutely clear, but in your heart, it is only the mountains and rivers between the five mountains. This trip won the victories of Kuanglu and Luofu, and the rock performance was magnificent and the music was magnificent. You have a unique miracle, so you should benefit from painting. I know everything about learning. I can entertain myself in my spare time or be an old painter. " (See "Customs Clearance Notes") This statement is well-founded and insightful, and it is rare for the emperor to have such insight. At this point, everyone who knows Dai likes Xuanzong.

On the way south, Dai Dai took a tour of mountains and rivers, which was very pleasant. "When you meet places of interest, you must study Mo Dan, from Jiangyou to Lingnan, with a valley and a high salt as a portrayal." After one year in Guangdong, I will roll the picture into a volume, "presenting the imperial view and rewarding it." At this time, critics from all walks of life commented on Dai's works, saying that after he arrived in Guangdong, his pen and ink were extraordinary and helpful.

Of course, God's help is not necessarily necessary. It is true that with the help of emperors and mountains and rivers, Dai's painting art has made progress day by day.

Judging from the art of calligraphy and painting alone, Xuanzong is not an emperor and Dai is not a minister. They are a pair of artistic confidants. However, Xuanzong was an emperor and Dai was a minister. What Dai can never understand is that the "emperor" is the "emperor", so if there are no villains alienating each other, who can predict whether Dai will continue to be called Xuanzong? The pet is worried, and the future is bright; This long-term encounter is a blessing or a curse for Dai's paintings and calligraphy. Who can predict?

Dai, a scholar in Daoguang period, has always been cautious. Later, he became the official of the right assistant minister of the Ministry of War and settled down in the south study. Because I was not familiar with the dark alley in Zi Yuan, I never catered to the prison, which eventually led to the framing of the prison. One day, the prison accused Xuanzong (Daoguang Emperor) of writing mistakes. Xuanzong just "changed the internal prison order (holding the imperial edict and wearing it at will)". The internal reference was insidious, deliberately not telling Dai about the mistakes in the painting, and ordered Dai to read it again with another piece of paper. Dai obeyed, and immediately "don't write a piece of paper, the typo remains the same", which angered Xuanzong. "I thought it was intentional" so I fired Dai and fired him from idleness.

In the tenth year of Xianfeng (1860), Xuanzong had been dead for ten years when the Taiping Army captured Hangzhou. Dai Xifu, 60, worshiped the north and jumped into the pool. Obviously, I was grateful to the Qing dynasty, but I actually reported Xuanzong's feelings of being prepared for danger in times of peace. Dai died wholeheartedly. I don't know if Xuanzong, who was worried about "typo" and thought it was "intentional", had a solution?

Not all the monarch and ministers used each other with ulterior motives, but they also had the friendship of knowing each other, and there were many famous examples in past dynasties. Perhaps Dai was too concerned about Xuanzong's knowledge and esteem, so he raped a small number of people, expelled them from idle places, never forgot to repay them, and had no complaints about the emperor. In Xuanzong's place, perhaps he paid too much attention to "ordering Dai to inspect Guangdong" and the kindness he had always shown, so he neglected a little bit, so he thought Dai was not interesting enough and was furious, which drove Dai astray. Dai was obsessed with the good fortune of the past, thinking that the Taiping Army captured Hangzhou and the Qing Dynasty was finished. Obviously, they misjudged the situation, but it is not easy to report death with death. It is really not easy to practice once.

As far as Dai is concerned, it may be a bit silly to "die for a confidant", but in any case, it can still be summed up as loyalty, righteousness and love. What is moving and touching is that Dai used the mutual destruction of life and art to repay the unfinished feelings. (199665438+February 13)

Wu Zuguang said, "Snakes crawl."

Wu Zuguang, a famous playwright, had ups and downs in his life. He lives in harmony with his wife Xin (a famous artist) and his family is harmonious. Mr. Wu often talks and laughs, and his family sometimes laughs when the clouds are gloomy and foggy. Mr. Wu is friendly and has made numerous friends, but he is sincere and upright. When friends visited, they were supposed to comfort them. After sitting down and chatting for a while, the clouds cleared away, but they said, "Speak loudly and make things clear. Why not apply for elegance?"

Mr. Wu said that he "likes calligraphy, but he is not good at it." Although he was praised as "excellent in writing" among relatives and friends since he was a child, he was a "hollow reputation". When he was a Chinese teacher in Changsha in the 1930s, he suddenly became interested in calligraphy, but he just liked to write and draw and never worked hard.

Bing Zi (1996) told us two stories at a writer's party in Beijing Hotel on the evening of 25/2006/kloc-0. It was bitter and a heavy blow to the listener's heart, but he talked and laughed as if telling others something else.

Mr. Wu said that during the Cultural Revolution, he didn't know how to write a letter of criticism like some literati, which could dig deep into the soul. As soon as he wrote the exam, he was poor in words, and all his literary talents were frozen and he could not play. There is limited time to write the inspection, and there are many places to modify it. I didn't take out the sample before the deadline, so I had to bite the bullet and hand in the draft. The revolutionary youth didn't know much about his calligraphy and the traditional Chinese characters in the text, so they deliberately said his words were "like a dog's plane". He disagreed with this insulting statement and asked loudly: "Writing is writing. What does it have to do with dogs? Can dogs plane words? " The boy was furious and said, "It's not like a dog planner, do you think?" Teacher Wu answered "like a snake" without hesitation. The teenagers burst into laughter: "Snakes are even uglier. That's what you said! " Mr. Wu secretly rejoiced because he was born in Ding Si (19 17) and belongs to a snake. So, the boy smiled, and so did Mr. Wu. Finally, the boy ran away with a smile.

Another thing happened when Mr. Wu was forty years old. He said: "Now that I think about it, my rightist hat is also related to snakes. 1957, I helped the party's "rectification movement". I listened to the call, studied hard, thought hard and put forward some suggestions. As a result, I just became a "snake" that lured the snake out of the hole, and was named "Rightist" and became a member of the 500,000 Rightist army. Now that my hat is gone, I am still a snake, a snake god, haha, upgraded ... "

Scholars, regardless of ancient and modern times, have their own personality and dignity, even when they are most neglected. I would rather endure "snake crawling" than be insulted by "dog planing", which is the unusual stubbornness and humor of Mr. Wu, a scholar.

Later, at a party in Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, someone asked Mr. Wu for an album, and he wrote the word "Life Theater" with a pen. Just as I was meditating on the meaning of these four words, he turned around and jokingly asked me, "Lin Xiu, do you think I can join the Book Association?"

Mr. Wu left, followed the nun and went to a world where he could get peace of mind and body. It's strange that Mr. Wu's voice sometimes suddenly rings in my ear. Like when I listened to him before, I still laughed, but I felt really deep and sad in my heart. "Look, can I join the Book Association?" -this sentence will never be forgotten, together with Mr. Wu's cheerful laughter.

Wu Zuguang (19 17-2003), a famous playwright and director, was born in Wujin, Jiangsu. He was the vice chairman of Chinese Dramatists Association and a member of China People's Political Consultative Conference. He passed away on April 9, 2003. (2 April 20031day)