Collection of the University of Pittsburgh Art Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA. Gift of Dr. T. L. Yuan.
1972.01.271

Joyful cultivation of the Exuberant Artemisia

20th century (Date created)
Ink
Calligraphy
Calligraphy
27.5 in W x 61.75 in H (Object)
22.5 in W x 51 in H (Image)
Chinese
Large black Chinese characters cover the scroll from right to left.
Chiang Kai-shek was one of the most prominent political figures of the early twentieth century in China. He took control of the Chinese National Party, the Guo Min Dang, after the death of Sun Yet-sen in 1925. Later, his work to unite China under a democracy came into conflict with bout Mao Tse-tung, leader of the Chinese Communist Party, and with Japan, which was planning to take control of China. In his earlier years, Chiang was the first commandant of the Guo Ming Dang military academy at Whampao. Chiang's position at the school influenced him to write commentaries about education. The University of Pittsburgh received this scroll as a gift to the Chinese Nationality Room. Though the piece is signed Chaing Kai-shek, it is very likely that someone else did the calligraphy. The translation of the calligraphy reads "great joy comes with bringing up of the younger generation." The calligraphy is done in the Kai-shu script, as revealed by the long, fluid strokes. Both landscape paintings and calligraphy pieces were created on scrolls. When a piece of art was on a scroll, it could be unraveled by the viewer section by section. This enabled contemplation of parts of a landscape painting or the strokes of the calligraphic letters.

Joyful Cultivation of the Exuberant Artemisia (Jing’e le yu)
Signature of Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Zhongzheng, 1887–1975)
After 1939
Ink on paper
1972.01.271

Donated to the Chinese Nationality Room shortly after its 1939 founding, this Chinese idiom celebrates the transmission of knowledge to younger generations. Given on behalf of China’s Republican government (1912–1949), it was meant to affirm the importance of educational exchange between China and the US. To the right appears a now-obsolete transliteration of “University of Pittsburgh.” On the left are the seal and signature of Chiang Kai-shek, then-leader of China’s Republican government. This reflects China’s longstanding value for the union of political strength and calligraphic talent. Here Chiang goes by Zhongzheng, or “Central and Upright.” This name is perfect for his standard script (kaishu), which requires the brush to maintain a disciplined vertical position. The stability and regularity of each character contrasts with the Republican government’s repeated migration, shown on the map, during this period of civil war and occupation. The mounting textile combines two symbols of post-imperial China. The character “Zhong” (Central), as in “Central State” (Zhongguo), invokes the reidentification of China as a modern nation. The surrounding sunburst pattern, the Republican party emblem, replaced the dragon, a retrograde symbol of imperial rule.

(Mapping Mobility: Chinese Objects from the University Art Gallery Collection) 

In Collection
Dr. T.L. Yuan, director of the National Library of Peking (Beijing)
Please note that cataloging is ongoing and that some information may not be complete.