Chapter 5
独妙
Unique Excellence
144
of 659

English Translation
Although the article provides a detailed description of this experience, there are still some discrepancies with the actual situation. For example, the text states "the fifth teapot was painted by Jiang Saixi and inscribed by Zhao Yishuang, gifted to Brother Hu Youdao," while the actual inscription reads "A Cold Province Offering." Therefore, we estimate that although this text was derived from his father's oral account, due to the passage of time and the fact that the engraving process was completed after returning to Dingshan, the participant's recollection inevitably contains some omissions. Secondly, did Gu Jingzhou around 1948 possess the ability to engrave these teapots?
Gu Jingzhou loved seal carving and carved several seals himself throughout his life. From the seals he carved before making these teapots — "To personally create for one day is a blessing," "Sufficient to express what I love to play with and grow old observing," "Devoted to the ceramic arts" — we can see that Gu Jingzhou at that time already had a solid foundation in seal carving, and it was not impossible for him to engrave famous calligraphers' and painters' works on teapot bodies. Furthermore, looking at Master Gu's later collaborations with painters such as Liu Haisu, Fan Zeng, and Han Meilin, all were engraved and signed by Gu Jingzhou himself, which similarly demonstrates that Master Gu had such interests and habits. Thirdly, judging from the publication dates of the two articles listed above that clearly indicate the engraver, when Master Gu wrote these texts, he had already established his unique position in the Yixing pottery field and formed his own school. There was absolutely no need for him to use these engraving attributions to gain fame for himself. Moreover, Master Gu's extraordinary memory was universally acknowledged, so it is highly unlikely that confusion arose due to memory lapses on Gu Jingzhou's part.
Therefore, we should respect Gu Jingzhou's viewpoint — the engravings on "Great Stone Ladle" were indeed personally executed by Gu Jingzhou himself. Behind this, are there other possibilities: for example, were these engravings completed by Gu Jingzhou under Tan Yaokun's guidance, or was the once-circulated claim that Tan Yaokun was the engraver also at one time Gu Jingzhou's own statement, because at that time Tan Yaokun's reputation in engraving was indeed greater than Gu's own? These interesting topics are truly difficult to exhaust in a few words, because history is often this complex.
In 1955, Gu Jingzhou once again created "Great Stone Ladle" based on his 1948 version. The size and proportions were almost identical: the ladle body is narrow at the top and full at the bottom with a slanted posture, straight spout, ring-shaped handle, bridge-shaped knob, and circular three-legged base.
Chapter 5
独妙
Unique Excellence
Pages 142-405
View Chapter →
English Translation
Although the article provides a detailed description of this experience, there are still some discrepancies with the actual situation. For example, the text states "the fifth teapot was painted by Jiang Saixi and inscribed by Zhao Yishuang, gifted to Brother Hu Youdao," while the actual inscription reads "A Cold Province Offering." Therefore, we estimate that although this text was derived from his father's oral account, due to the passage of time and the fact that the engraving process was completed after returning to Dingshan, the participant's recollection inevitably contains some omissions. Secondly, did Gu Jingzhou around 1948 possess the ability to engrave these teapots?
Gu Jingzhou loved seal carving and carved several seals himself throughout his life. From the seals he carved before making these teapots — "To personally create for one day is a blessing," "Sufficient to express what I love to play with and grow old observing," "Devoted to the ceramic arts" — we can see that Gu Jingzhou at that time already had a solid foundation in seal carving, and it was not impossible for him to engrave famous calligraphers' and painters' works on teapot bodies. Furthermore, looking at Master Gu's later collaborations with painters such as Liu Haisu, Fan Zeng, and Han Meilin, all were engraved and signed by Gu Jingzhou himself, which similarly demonstrates that Master Gu had such interests and habits. Thirdly, judging from the publication dates of the two articles listed above that clearly indicate the engraver, when Master Gu wrote these texts, he had already established his unique position in the Yixing pottery field and formed his own school. There was absolutely no need for him to use these engraving attributions to gain fame for himself. Moreover, Master Gu's extraordinary memory was universally acknowledged, so it is highly unlikely that confusion arose due to memory lapses on Gu Jingzhou's part.
Therefore, we should respect Gu Jingzhou's viewpoint — the engravings on "Great Stone Ladle" were indeed personally executed by Gu Jingzhou himself. Behind this, are there other possibilities: for example, were these engravings completed by Gu Jingzhou under Tan Yaokun's guidance, or was the once-circulated claim that Tan Yaokun was the engraver also at one time Gu Jingzhou's own statement, because at that time Tan Yaokun's reputation in engraving was indeed greater than Gu's own? These interesting topics are truly difficult to exhaust in a few words, because history is often this complex.
In 1955, Gu Jingzhou once again created "Great Stone Ladle" based on his 1948 version. The size and proportions were almost identical: the ladle body is narrow at the top and full at the bottom with a slanted posture, straight spout, ring-shaped handle, bridge-shaped knob, and circular three-legged base.
章节导航 Chapter Navigation
Chapter 1
序文
Pages 6-6
Chapter 2
引言
Pages 28-31
Chapter 3
达变
Pages 32-133
Chapter 3
开宗立派
Pages 46-66
Chapter 3
传道授业
Pages 67-98
Chapter 3
大师淳友
Pages 99-120
Chapter 3
学艺谋生
Pages 121-133
Chapter 4
化神
Pages 134-141
Chapter 5
独妙
Pages 142-405
Chapter 5
匠心独运 不苟丝毫
Pages 142-179
Chapter 5
器利善事 物尽其用
Pages 180-199
Chapter 5
紫泥春华 研精究微
Pages 200-405
Chapter 6
驾简
Pages 406-427
Chapter 6
精雕细刻 文质合一
Pages 406-410
Chapter 6
师法自然 妙趣横生
Pages 411-415
Chapter 6
丝来线去 曲尽其妙
Pages 416-427
Chapter 7
明志
Pages 463-485
Chapter 7
高山仰止 淡泊明志
Pages 463-472
Chapter 7
啜墨看茶 气定神闲
Pages 473-478
Chapter 7
齿少心锐 怡志抒情
Pages 479-485
Chapter 8
存真
Pages 428-462
Chapter 8
规圆矩方 弃伪存真
Pages 428-436
Chapter 8
有物有则 钻尖仰高
Pages 437-462
Chapter 9
心营
Pages 506-525
Chapter 9
坚守传统 艺立潮头
Pages 506-513
Chapter 9
新型师承 桃李满园
Pages 514-525
Chapter 10
附录
Pages 526-651
Chapter 10
顾景舟紫艺论文
Pages 526-535
Chapter 10
技术课备课笔记
Pages 536-543
Chapter 10
顾景舟艺术年表
Pages 544-651
Chapter 11
参考文献
Pages 652-657
Chapter 12
鸣谢
Pages 658-659