This artwork was created by Mr. Huang Yongyu for the "Ink - Huang Yongyu Centennial Print Art Exhibition". I saw it and liked it very much. The original text is excerpted below.
Yangzhou Slow.
A famous city on the left bank of the Huai River, a beautiful place to the west of the bamboo, where I stopped briefly after dismounting. After passing through ten miles of spring breeze, all I see is the lush green of shepherd's purse and wheatgrass. Since the Hu horses peered at the river and left, the abandoned pond and tall trees have grown tired of the talk of war. As dusk approaches, the clear bugle blows in the cold, echoing through the empty city.
Mr. Du Lang's appreciation is extraordinary, and it surprises me even more now. Even though the eloquent wordsmiths are abundant, the dream of the brothel is hard to express deep emotions. The Twenty-Four Bridges still exist, with ripples in their hearts, and the cold moon remains silent. I think of the red medicine by the bridge, year after year, who knows who it blooms for?
Seal: The more people I know, the more I love dogs (White square seal)
Mr. Jiang Kui's poem not only commented on Master Du Mu, but also educated generations to come, and saw through the true feelings of society. That's why I have painted it with different moods. Many years have passed, and I am actually getting close to a hundred years old, as if there are still many things I want to do. Just look at the ruined orchid, it seems to let down even itself, as if there is no way to survive, as if it is impossible to write a Jiang Kui-style variation. (Is this really difficult?) Writing this laborious poem, I just want to please the master with a few more words. I have been to Yangzhou, it was decades and decades ago, and I bought a severely damaged copy of Fu Qingzhu's gynecology book at a stall near a temple gate. When I returned to Beijing, an old book lover told me that Fu Shan's edition was everywhere, not worth taking, but on the Lantern Festival, I can get as many as I want in Changdian. This has nothing to do with Fu Shan or Yangzhou, I just mentioned that I had been to Yangzhou once.
Seal: Huang (Red circular seal)
I really went to find the Twenty-Four Bridges, as Mr. Jiang said, it should not be the order of all the bridges in Yangzhou. When he said "still exist," it should at least be counted from the time of Mr. Du. "Ripples in their hearts, the cold moon remains silent" is Jiang's response to his feelings. Where is that bridge? Some say it's here, some say it's there. I really followed him and them on a trip along a small street by the river, where a few women were sewing. Don't mention the Twenty-Four Bridges, I couldn't even figure out the foundation of the bridge. Ah! There are many fools in the world, just like me. Facing the vastness, how many strokes have I written, countless. Mr. Jiang himself has also written many paths, he is a recognized master of composing tunes, and finally managed to become an "official" like "Lezheng". On his first day in office, wanting to show some authority, he ordered the musicians to "play" for him, but he misspoke, it turned out that the musician playing the se was called "drum" not "play". After a report, he was immediately dismissed. I seem to remember a joke from before, mixing up Cubism, Impressionism, and Modernism in a speech, just like mixing up yellow people, white people, and "humans". No one dared to stand up and point out the mistake at the time, everyone knew, this was an academic "issue", everyone also knew, this was not an academic "consequence". Nearly a hundred years have passed, writing it out for everyone to see, perhaps at that time, a certain gentleman had not yet been born, and would not believe that this actually happened, saying that I took lies as truth, don't blame me, don't blame me!
Seal: Chunzi (Red rectangular seal)
Preserved at the Grand Canal Museum. March 27, 2023, Huang Yongyu, 99 years old, in Beijing.
Seals: Huang Yongyu (White square seal), 95 Fire Eyes (Red oval seal)
Reflections#
When it comes to Yangzhou, my first impression is definitely Jiang Kui's poem "Yangzhou Slow". On the way here, I also recited this poem silently.
I have drawn lotus flowers in my high school art class. I didn't do it well, so I know it's not easy to draw. But at the age of a hundred, being able to paint these lotus flowers and write so many words, I think it's even more remarkable.
As for the words on the painting, I think they are also good. Especially the content. I feel a sense of "doing as one pleases without going beyond the limits". Here are a few points I noted:
- "Not only did it comment on Master Du Mu, but it also educated generations to come and saw through the true feelings of society." I can't grasp the meaning here. It must be due to my lack of experience.
- "I just mentioned that I had been to Yangzhou once." It's quite interesting.
- "I really went to find the Twenty-Four Bridges." Originally, I thought "附庸风雅" (fuyong fengya) wasn't a good term, but when Mr. Huang used it, it became witty. I also enjoy doing similar things, deliberately visiting places I have read about in poems, even if things have changed.
- "Ah! There are many fools in the world, just like me." Humble.