Mongolian calligrapher opens calligraphy museum in hometown

A calligraphy museum featuring the work of Inner Mongolian calligrapher Wang Degong opened in Tumd Right Banner of Baotou on June 7, reports Baotou Daily.

The museum displayed more than 180 seal script calligraphy works created by Wang Degong.

Born in Tumd Right Banner, Wang Degong spent more than 30 years living in the banner. Wang, whose father was a painter, cultivated an interest in calligraphy during childhood and has been practicing ever since.

The museum was opened with the hope of promoting the art of calligraphy, especially seal characters.

Wang Degong (left), a Mongolian calligrapher with expertise in seal characters, introduces his calligraphy works to visitors in his calligraphy museum, June 7. [Photo/Baotou Daily]

Seal character is an ancient method of writing Chinese characters and can be classified into Small Seal Script and Large Seal Script.

Small Seal Script was standardized and promulgated as a national standard by Li Si, prime minister under the orders of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). And Large Seal Script was common during the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC).

Seal character is widely considered in China to be one of the most difficult methods of writing Chinese characters.

“The number of seal character learners is sharply decreasing as it is hard to recognize and write,” said Wang during his introduction to the method of character writing. Wang mastered the art after practicing seal character calligraphy for more than 40 years with persistence and perseverance.

A piece of calligraphy work by Wang Degong [Photo/Baotou Evening News]