Sino-Japanese Calligraphy Exhibition of Oracle Bone Inscriptions-Origin of Ancie

The Calligraphy Exhibition of Oracle Bone Inscriptions―Origin of the Ancient Chinese Writing jointly sponsored by the CPAFFC, the Chinese Society of Yin and Shang Culture Studies and the Japanese Hokushi Seal Cutting Society was held in the National Museum of China in Beijing from July 15 to 19 and the Henan Museum in Zhengzhou from July 21 to 24, 2005.

Oracle bone inscriptions carved on tortoise shells and animal scapulas in the ancient Shang Dynasty more than 3,000 years ago are the earliest readable characters that China has so far discovered. The oracle bone inscriptions as the origin of the Chinese writing are the root of the traditional Chinese culture and treasure of human culture, occupying a very important place in the world cultural treasure-house.

At this exhibition with the theme of oracle bone inscriptions, about 210 pieces of calligraphic and seal cutting works of imitation of oracle bone inscriptions created by Chinese and Japanese experts and scholars and calligraphers of ancient writing as well as photos of archeological excavation of oracle bone inscriptions were displayed. Among them 85 pieces of calligraphic and seal cutting works were provided by Ms. Nanen Kitamuro, Japanese calligrapher and seal cutter and president of the Hokushi Seal Cutting Society, and members of the society. In his speech at the opening ceremony in the National Museum, CPAFFC President Chen Haosu said, this exhibition with the aim of recalling and reflecting the origin of the rich and profound culture of Chinese writing that goes back to ancient times is very important to promoting contacts and exchanges between the Chinese and Japanese scholars and calligraphy-lovers and strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. He hoped that both sides would work hard together to make contributions to the prosperity and revival of the culture of Chinese writing in the new century.

In her speech, President Nanen Kitamuro pointed out that the original intention of this exhibition was to promote the nations with the same culture living in the same Northeast Asia Chinese writing cultural circle to return to the origin of their culture and through oracle bone inscriptions to rediscover the spiritual culture that has been forgotten and lost by the people in the modern times. She hoped that under the current difficult situation of Japan-China relations more non-governmental cultural exchanges of this kind would be held.

After wrapping up its visit to Beijing, the 14-member Japanese delegation went to Henan where oracle bone inscriptions were first found and the number of ancient sites and cultural relics unearthed rank the first in China. It is one of the birthplaces of Chinese culture where over 20 dynasties in the Chinese history established their capitals there. The members of the delegation had longed for coming to this land that had nurtured Chinese civilization. Tracing the source of the Chinese civilization, they first visited the Yellow River, mother river of the Chinese nation. Watching the Yellow River that had been flowing for thousands of years, deeply touched, they recalled the past and compared it with the present. In an interview with a correspondent, a member of the delegation said with emotion, only by coming to China does he realize how vast China’s territory is, and only upon seeing the magnificent Yellow River does he feel deeply how long and splendid the Chinese civilization is.

The delegation then visited three of “the seven ancient Chinese capitals” Anyang, Luoyang and Kaifeng where they admired the perfect combination of the ancient capital with its new construction. In order to be able to really “touch” the history and culture of the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, the delegation specially visited the Yin Ruin’s Museum of Anyang, the site of a city of the Shang Dynasty in Zhengzhou and the site of Erlitou in Yanshi, and had academic and calligraphic exchanges with experts and scholars of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences working in Anyang and noted local calligraphers and calligraphy-lovers. From the angle of writing, the two sides discussed similarities and differences between the Chinese and Japanese cultures, and from the evolution of the Japanese writing traced the history of introduction of Chinese characters into Japan and the long history of Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges. The members of the delegation took notes while listening to the explanation by the Chinese experts, who were moved by their eagerness of learning and enthusiasm for the Chinese culture.

Through this short exhibition, the Chinese and Japanese experts and scholars had extensive contacts, popularized the knowledge of oracle bone and publicized the Chinese long ancient history and culture. The exhibition has helped enhance nongovernmental cultural exchanges between China and Japan and deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.