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CUHK Art Museum Exhibits Qing Dynasty Couplets from the Lechangzai Xuan Collection for the Third Time
The Art Museum of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) presents the exhibition ‘Double Beauty III: Qing Dynasty Couplets from the Lechangzai Xuan Collection’ from tomorrow (1 October) to 1 January 2017. This exhibition showcases 71 couplets, while a total number of 150 works by 134 masters are published in the exhibition catalogue. Members of the public are welcome to visit the exhibition. Admission is free.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition was held today (30 September). Those present included Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK; Mr. Harold Wong, Master of Lechangzai Xuan; Mr. Christopher Mok, Chairman, Advisory Committee of the Art Museum; Prof. Leung Yuen-sang, Director of the Institute of Chinese Studies; Prof. Harold Mok, Chairman of the Department of Fine Arts; Prof. Josh Yiu, Director of the Art Museum and Dr. Phil Chan, Research-Assistant Curator (Painting & Calligraphy) of the Art Museum, CUHK.
The prevalence of couplet calligraphy in the Qing dynasty is a striking phenomenon in the history of Chinese calligraphy. Whether as a unique calligraphic genre or as tasteful objects to be given away in literati circles, couplets were of great significance both aesthetically and socially. An immense number of specimens have survived and are now in the collection of either public museums or private collectors, among which the Lechangzai Xuan collection is certainly one of the most important in terms of quantity and quality.
This is the third exhibition of Qing dynasty couplets from the renowned Lechangzai Xuan collection. In 2003 and 2007, selections from this prestigious collection were staged at the Art Museum under the title of ‘Double Beauty’. Their associated catalogues offering public access to a total of 300 works were well received. This year, to the delight of many art lovers, another fine selection of 150 couplets are presented to further showcase the splendour of Qing couplets as well as the taste and acumen of a seasoned collector.
In line with previous practices for the series, the exhibition is presented by the Art Museum and co-curated with the Department of Fine Arts, the faculty and students of which have also compiled the exhibition catalogue which is graced by scholarly contributions. This mode of collaboration not only demonstrates the close partnership between the Art Museum and collectors, and the Department and scholars around the world but also the special role that the institution has been playing as a university museum. Providing valuable specimens for appreciation by members of the public and for research by the scholarly community, the exhibition certainly ranks among the most important ones of Chinese calligraphy in recent years. In order to promote the studies and learnings of Chinese couplet calligraphy, the Art Museum has not only published an exhibition catalogue, but also invited scholars from Taiwan and Hong Kong to be speakers for a lecture series. This will provide an excellent opportunity for the public to learn about couplets and calligraphy.
Details of the exhibition are as follows:
| Exhibition Period: | 1 October 2016 to 1 January 2017 |
| Exhibition Venue: | Gallery I, Art Museum, Institute of Chinese Studies, CUHK |
| Opening Hours: | Mondays to Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays: 10:00am-5:00pm Sundays and Public Holidays: 1:00pm-5:00pm |
| Closed: | Thursdays, Christmas Holidays (24-27 December) and New Year’s Eve (31 December) |
| Enquiries: | 3943-7416 |
Five-character Couplet in Running Script Zha Shibiao (1615-1698) Ink on gold-flecked waxed paper 125 x 28.2 cm each
Seven-character Couplet in Running Script Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) Ink on paper 156.1 x 34.2 cm each
Five-character Couplet in Seal Script Deng Shiru (1743-1805) Ink on paper 87.3 x 18.8 cm each
Seven-character Couplet in Clerical Script Yi Bingshou (1754-1815) Dated 1815 Ink on paper 240 x 31.5 cm each
Eleven-character Couplet in Clerical Script Wu Xizai (1799-1870) Dated 1851 Ink on gold-flecked paper 239.7 x 29.1 cm each
Eight-character Couplet in Regular Script Zeng Guofan (1811-1872) Ink on gold-flecked paper 120.2 x 43.7 cm each
Seven-character Couplet in Seal Script Wu Dacheng（1835-1902） Ink on paper 334.5 x 62.5 cm each
Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, Vice Chancellor and President of CUHK delivers a speech.
(From left) Prof. Josh Yiu, Director of the Art Museum, CUHK; Prof. Leung Yuen-sang, Director of the Institute of Chinese Studies, CUHK; Mr. Harold Wong, Master of Lechangzai Xuan; Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK; Mr. Christopher Mok, Chairman, Advisory Committee, Art Museum, CUHK; Prof. Harold Mok, Chairman, Department of Fine Arts, CUHK, and Dr. Phil Chan, Research-Assistant Curator (Painting and Calligraphy) of the Art Museum, CUHK officiate at the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the exhibition.
(From left) Prof. Josh Yiu, Director of the Art Museum, CUHK; Prof. Leung Yuen-sang, Director of the Institute of Chinese Studies, CUHK; Dr. Leung Nai-pang, Chairman of CUHK Council; Mr. Chien Lee, Vice-Chairman of CUHK Council; Mr. Harold Wong, Master of Lechangzai Xuan; Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK; Mr. Christopher Mok, Chairman, Advisory Committee, Art Museum, CUHK; Prof. Harold Mok, Chairman, Department of Fine Arts, CUHK; Prof. Hui-Wen Lu, Associate Professor, Graduate Institute of Art History National Taiwan University; and Dr. Phil Chan, Research-Assistant Curator (Painting and Calligraphy) of the Art Museum, CUHK pose for a group photo with students from the Department of Fine Arts, CUHK, who helped compile the exhibition catalogue.
A performance of the exhibition theme song by students from the Department of Music, CUHK.
