Cui Xuelu Calligraphy Art
Dunhuang was the first stop of Buddhism's introduction to China, and during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, it was the center of Buddhist scripture translation throughout the country.
Dunhuang blended Eastern and Western cultures, shining brightly through the changes of ancient and modern times, and it is a philosophical holy land for the enlightenment of human civilization.
#1
Writing Sutras in Dunhuang with a Spirit of Freedom.
The practice of writing sutras in Dunhuang began in the Western Jin Dynasty, continued during the Northern Dynasties, flourished in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and ended during the Five Dynasties and early Song Dynasty. Copies of sutras and calligraphy from more than ten dynasties were collected in the Mogao Caves, which hold immeasurable value for the study of the spirit of freedom in the evolution of Chinese calligraphy over three thousand years.
Dunhuang is also the birthplace of cursive script. The cursive script works in Dunhuang's cultural relics are also regarded as treasures by major museums around the world.
#2
My Affection for Dunhuang
In the 1990s, it was the period when I was studying the small regular script works of famous calligraphers such as Zhong Yao, Wang Xizhi, and Wang Xianzhi, and also the beginning of my fascination with Dunhuang.
I was amazed by the richness and exquisite workmanship of the four-volume "Dunhuang Scriptures" that I found at the antique bookstore in Liuli Factory. Since then, I have been collecting Dunhuang scriptures, Han dynasty bamboo slips, fragments of paper, and series of books and publications. I have also been fortunate to witness the authentic works that have undergone more than a thousand years of history from the Wei, Jin, Tang, and Song dynasties at the National Museum, National Library, and Peking University.
When copying various sutras of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, I delved into various script styles such as seal, clerical, regular, cursive, and grass. The simplicity, serenity, vastness, and fluidity of the Dunhuang scriptures gradually penetrated my heart. Together with my wife Xulan, we took it as our aspiration, honed our skills, and pursued the path of Zen in our hearts.
Mr. Li Bohui and Mr. Wang Shengxiang from Mongolian Long sponsored and curated the "Shen Jie Dunhuang" exhibition and themed research talks in Lanzhou and Dunhuang in the early 21st century. This event brought together a group of calligraphers and scholars, including Zhai Wanyi, Wang Guowen, He Peng, Li Bo, Li Hengbin, Qin Libin, Ma Guojun, Qiu Zi, Zhu Chunhua, Ding Yongming, and Yan Xiangsheng, and established a strong connection between calligraphy and Dunhuang.
I took a car and set off from Jia Yu Guan, passing through Yang Guan and Du Yu Men to finally arrive at the Mogao Caves and visit Fan Jinshi. During the journey, I experienced the fierce wind and swirling sands, understanding the spirit of the great calligrapher Wang Xizhi's famous quote "riding on a withered grass, I am blown by the wind."
My study of small regular script was transformed by my exploration of Dunhuang scriptures, as I delved deeper into the spirit of calligraphy. For years, I collected and integrated the essence of seal script, clerical script, and ancient texts on bamboo and silk. Eventually, I created a long scroll in clean regular script based on Zhu Xi's commentary on the Book of Songs. With the style of my calligraphy echoing that of the Wei and Jin dynasties, and infused with the spirit of the Qin and Han dynasties, it captured the essence and charm of the Book of Songs in ancient times.
Studying the Han dynasty bamboo slips from Dunhuang, Wuwei, and Juyan, I departed from the strict and precise style of inscriptions in the past and experienced the freedom and liberation of "grass and clerical" scripts.
In recent years, the "Dance of Dunhuang" theme, which integrates Dunhuang scriptures, Han dynasty bamboo slips, and large cursive script, has been showcased in exhibitions such as the "Mo Yishu Dao Exhibition" held at the China National Art Museum, the Taiwan National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and the Charlotte History Museum in the United States.
#3
Dunhuang Zhang Zhi's Cursive Script
"The "Calligraphy Sage" Zhang Zhi, "Sub-Sage" Zhang Chang, the "Two Sages" brothers, and the "Chapter Grass Master" Suo Jing of the Western Jin Dynasty, all hailed from Dunhuang."
I continued to study the cursive script of the Changshi, Lugong, and Suweng, and delved into the realm of writing freely from the heart, establishing the "Tribute to the Cursive Heavenly Book" series as my lifelong pursuit of calligraphy.
“Dun means great. Huang means flourishing.”
Dunhuang is a holy land of human civilization.
In my heart, Dunhuang constantly elevates, enriches, and sublimates. It is no longer just an art palace or a religious site.
I wander within it, nourish myself within it, and seek within it. I know no rest, for I endlessly pursue it.
