Chang Qinghai 常清海

Chang Qinghai's pieces illustrate the Wei tablets style of calligraphy—especially the first two couplets. This style is based on the standard style but is characterized by a very precise, chiseled quality. Chang lengthens the vertical strokes, which are often thin, and contrasts these with the heavier horizontal strokes in his own interpretation of this style.

Back 		changqinghai_sig.jpg (15K)
Signature 		changqinghai_seal_1.jpg (15K)
changqinghai_seal_2.jpg (9K)
Seals
changqinghai_2002_pinescypresses_lg.jpg (42K)
Creator.Personal Name: 常清海 Creator.Role: calligrapher.
Title: [Couplet]
Description: hanging scroll; ink on paper (wei bei script); inscribed and signed by artist; two seals.
Date.Created: 2002.
Type: Calligraphy--Chinese--2002.
Type: Scroll (Visual work)--Chinese.
Style.Period: Contemporary.
Culture: Chinese.
Material.Medium: ink.
Material.Support: paper.
Measurements: 21 x 38 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.

Translation:
You can hear the pine far away when it's silent,
The stream is so lovely in autumn.
changqinghai_2002_pinestream_lg.jpg (46K)
Creator.Personal Name: 常清海 Creator.Personal Name: Chang Qinghai.
Creator.Role: calligrapher.
Title: [Couplet]
Description: hanging scroll; ink on paper (wei bei script); inscribed and signed by artist; two seals.
Date.Created: 2002.
Type: Calligraphy--Chinese--2002.
Type: Scroll (Visual work)--Chinese.
Style.Period: Contemporary.
Culture: Chinese.
Material.Medium: ink.
Material.Support: paper.
Measurements: 21 x 38 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.


Translation:
Ancient pines show the style of some gentlemen,
They write feelings with brushes and ink
changqinghai_libai_poem_lg.jpg (54K)
Creator.Personal Name: 常清海 Creator.Personal Name: Chang Qinghai.
Creator.Role: calligrapher.
Title: [Poem by Li Bai]
Description: hanging scroll; ink on paper (wei bei script); inscribed and signed by artist; two seals.
Date.Created: 2002.
Type: Calligraphy--Chinese--2002.
Type: Scroll (Visual work)--Chinese.
Style.Period: Contemporary.
Culture: Chinese.
Material.Medium: ink.
Material.Support: paper.
Measurements: 21 x 38 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.

Translation of "Leaving White King City," a poem by Li Bai—a.k.a. Li Po, Li T'ai Po—701-762 C.E., Tang Dynasty:
White King City I left at dawn
in the morning-glow of the clouds;
The thousand miles to Chiang-ling
we sailed in a single day.
On either shore the gibbons' chatter
sounded without pause
While my light boat skimmed past
ten thousand sombre crags.

朝辞白帝彩云间
千里江陵一日还
两岸猿声啼不住
轻舟已过万重山
changqinghai_wangweipoem_lg.jpg (51K)
Creator.Personal Name: 常清海 Creator.Personal Name: Chang Qinghai.
Creator.Role: calligrapher.
Title: [Poem by Wang Wei]
Description: hanging scroll; ink on paper (wei bei script); inscribed and signed by artist; two seals.
Date.Created: 2002.
Type: Calligraphy--Chinese.
Type: Scroll (Visual work)--Chinese.
Style.Period: Contemporary.
Culture: Chinese.
Material.Medium: ink.
Material.Support: paper.
Measurements: 21 x 38 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.

Translation of a Poem by Wang Wei (701-761 C.E., Tang Dynasty):
I did not know the incense storing temple,
I walked a few miles into the clouded peaks.
No man on the path between the ancient trees,
A bell rang somewhere deep among the hills.
A spring sounded choked, running down steep rocks,
The green pines chilled the sunlight's coloured rays.
Come dusk, at the bend of a deserted pool,
Through meditation I controlled passion's dragon.

不知香积寺
数里入云峰
古木无人径
深山何处钟
泉声咽危石
日色冷青松
薄暮空潭曲
安禅制毒龙
Chinese Calligraphy