Chinese Herald News (Reporter Yang Wenkai) Mr. Tian Yingzhang, a famous Chinese calligrapher, calligraphy educator, and representative of the contemporary "Tian Kai", died suddenly of illness during his visit to Japan on the evening of September 28, 2024, at the age of 74.
Tian Yingzhang, also known as Cunqing and Cunqing, was born on January 16, 1950 in Tianjin, People's Republic of China. He graduated from Capital Normal University and Tokyo Gakugei University in Japan. He has successively appointed a scribe by the State Council and the first president of the China Hard Pen Calligraphy Association. Mr. Tian Yingzhang learned calligraphy with his father at the age of 3, majored in Ouyang Xunkaishu, and also studied Wang Xizhi, Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan, Zhao Ziang and other famous masters. In 1988, he won the highest prize in China in the Japan Writing Research New Printing Font Competition, and in 1990, he won the highest award in the world of Japan International New Font, and held the "Chinese Tian Brothers" calligraphy exhibition in Japan four times. He has edited and published thousands of calligraphy textbooks, which are widely disseminated not only in China but also in Japan.
Tian Yingzhang passed away, and it happened suddenly. Tian Xuesong, the son of Tian Yingzhang, and the China Hard Pen Calligraphy Association have successively released obituaries. On October 5th, the farewell ceremony of Mr. Tian Yingzhang's body was held in Tokyo, and dozens of family members, relatives and friends, students and disciples of the deceased, as well as Chinese and Japanese friends, attended the farewell ceremony to bid farewell to Mr. Tian for the last time.
At the farewell ceremony, Tian Xuesong, on behalf of the family, thanked all the friends for coming to see off his father for the last time. He said: On September 28, my father died of a heart attack, and we were caught off guard by such an unfortunate event in a foreign country. At this time of crisis, I would like to thank Uncle Liu Hongyou, Aunt Luo Hua and all friends for their great help, and I would like to express my deep gratitude on behalf of the whole family. My father began learning calligraphy at the age of three, and devoted his life to the study and education of calligraphy, publishing thousands of books on calligraphy, and tens of millions of people around the world followed him to learn calligraphy. My father was born to calligraphy all his life, and until the day before his death, he was still working and writing.
Since the 90s, my father has held many exhibitions in Japan. In the 90s, my father wrote two sets of computer printing fonts for two companies in Japan, which are now widely used in Japan's streets, advertisements, TV programs, product packaging, book printing, and other fields. I'm a foreigner, but it's very gratifying to see my father's handwriting on the streets of Japan, especially at this special time. Although his father passed away, he made a great contribution to the promotion of cultural exchanges between China and Japan. We should inherit his legacy, promote calligraphy, and make contributions to Sino-Japanese friendship. I would like to thank all my relatives and friends who came from China, thank you to all my friends in Japan, and especially thank Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, former Prime Minister of Japan, and Mr. Masahiko Takamura, former Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party, for sending a message of condolence to their father's artistic achievements and contributions to Japan calligraphy.
Mr. Tian Yingzhang's lifelong friend and president Liu Hongyou of the Japan International Calligraphy Art Association delivered a eulogy. He said: Today, it is with great sadness that we gather here to cherish the memory of Mr. Tian Yingzhang. Mr. Tian Yingzhang is amiable and respectable, and he is a great man and a giant in my heart. You are a mentor on my artistic journey, a big brother, and a friend of the year. Your departure is like a bright star that suddenly dims; Your departure has made me feel that the mountains have been tarnished and the rivers have been silent. Your departure is like the train of art off the tracks; The world suddenly became empty and deserted, leaving us with endless sorrow and reluctance.
Your life is a life of diligence, a life of humor, a life of struggle, and a life of dedication. You have quietly undertaken the heavy responsibility of the Chinese national culture, and with your wisdom and sweat, you have created the "Tian Kai" followed by hundreds of millions of people, and have become the most well-known and influential calligrapher for thousands of years. You are a wise man and benefactor on the road ahead of my life. 33 years of your care and support; Your love and teachings will forever be engraved in my heart and become an inexhaustible driving force for us to move forward. May you be well in the other world, rest in peace, my dear brother! You will always be missed.
Here, I would like to pay tribute to my dear friend Mr. Tian Yingzhang. "There are only tears in the mourning of the king in a foreign land, and Yu Zhong is silent", as the end.
Tetsuji Nagata, vice president of the Japan-China Friendship Association in Tokyo, delivered a eulogy, saying: Hearing about the passing of Mr. Hidesho Tian was like the sky falling. Mr. Tian Yingzhang is one of the most outstanding calligraphers in the field of Sino-Japanese calligraphy exchanges. As early as 33 years ago, we established close exchanges with the Chinese calligraphy community, and Mr. Tian Yingzhang's profound influence on the Japan calligraphy community is indelible, and he has many followers. Mr. Tian Yingzhang has made extraordinary contributions to the creation of brush script and line script in Japan, becoming the first Chinese calligrapher to participate in the creation of Japan calligraphy in the past century. This kind of communication that penetrates the hearts of the people through words as a medium has a wide impact and far-reaching significance, which is rare. Although Mr. Tian has gone west, his footprints and spirit will remain in our hearts. Whenever we see his calligraphy, we will think of Mr. Tian and his great contribution to Sino-Japanese friendship. Mr. Tian is eternal.
At the farewell ceremony, a message of condolence from former Japan Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was also read: I am shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Hideaki Ta. I have been associated with Mr. Tian Yingzhang for a long time. At the International Calligraphy Art Exhibition held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, we exhibited our calligraphy works side by side and participated in the award ceremony. Mr. Tian is not only a respected artist, but also a highly regarded educator. His writings and writings are widely circulated throughout Japan and are loved by everyone. The spiritual footprints left by Mr. Tian will remain in the hearts of Japan forever, and I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to Mr. Ta's family and pray for his resting and eternal rest.
Masahiko Takamura, former vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, also sent a message of condolence, saying: We are very surprised by the news of the sudden death of Mr. Tian Yingzhang. Through Mr. Liu Hongyou, Mr. Tian Yingzhang and I had an exchange in calligraphy and Chinese. Mr. Tian has many students all over China, and calligraphy branches are located all over the country. His book is seen in the media almost every day in Japan, and such a feat is not something that anyone can achieve. I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family member, Mr. Wada's protégés in China and around the world.
On the same day, the organizers also read out a number of condolence messages from the Japanese side, expressing the respect and love of Tian Yingzhang from the Japan calligraphy community and social friends.
Chinese and Japanese friends who participated in the farewell ceremony offered incense and flowers to Mr. Tian Yingzhang in turn to express their condolences. In the slight drizzle, everyone carried the coffin and the coffin to bid farewell to Mr. Tian for the last time.
Mr. Tian Yingzhang is eternal, Mr. Tian Yingzhang rest in peace!
