Masterpieces of Ancient Chinese and Japanese Calligraphy

The postscript:
The origin of the exhibition Masterpieces of Chinese and Japanese Calligraphy can be traced back to the exhibition The Calligraphy of Nishikawa Yasushi in the Collection of the Tokyo National Museum held in the Shanghai Museum three years ago. At the opening of that show, I had an opportunity to speak with Prof. Wang Qingzheng, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Museum at that time. We talked about a possible cooperation in holding exhibitions concerning Chine se and Japanese calligraphy in both the Shanghai Museum and the Tokyo National Museum. Later on, the Shanghai Museum purchased and collected the best rubbings of Chunhua Ge Tie (the Model-letter Compendia of the Chunhua Reign). At the symposium on Chunhua Ge Tie, I discussed with Prof. Wang again about the possibility of presenting both the Chunhua Ge Tie and some other Wang Xizhi's calligraphy works preserved in Japan in the prospective exhibition. Based on this, we had the idea to gather the most renowned masterpieces of Chinese and Japanese calligraphy in one exhibition. At the same time, we began to think about the exact exhibits. Shortly after this discussion, the Tokyo National Museum planned an exhibition of calligraphy. Having been informed, Prof. Wang brought up his idea that the Shanghai Museum would like to cooperate with the Tokyo National Museum at the exhibition and presented the Shanghai Museum collections of Chine se calligraphy together with Chine se and Japanese calligraphy works preserved in Japan. Thus, the project of Masterpieces o{Chinese and Japanese Calligraphy was finally fixed.
The works for this exhibition consists of those with extremely high quality from the most brilliant and indispensable calligraphers in both Chinese and Japanese history. All of three handwriting pieces by Wang Xizhi including the famous Sangluan Tie (the Letter of Deep Sorrow), which have been preserved in Japan, will be presented. It is really a rare and precious opportunity for them to come back to China, which is unprecedented and most significant as well.
As a Japanese, l feel very delighted that this great exhibition is held in China. It was Chinese characters that helped Japan to develop its own writing system and finally come to a civilization. Without Chinese characters, we could not have our kana. Due to this fact, Japanese should appreciate Chinese people deeply. This exhibition is very significant for us to comprehend the above-mentioned history.
However, it is an extreme pity that Prof. Wang Qingzheng left us forever before the opening of the exhibition into which he made great efforts. But Prof. Wang would feel much excited to see it from heaven, I believe.
Without the assistances and supports from both Chinese and Japanese colleagues, it is impossible to realize this exhibition of such a large scale. I would like to thank the Imperial Household Agency of Japan and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China for their special consideration, and al so give my thanks to the Japanese institutions and individuals providing their collections, the Shanghai Museum and other people who have contributed to this exhibition. Thank you all!
(Nishioka Yasuhiro - Deputy Director, Tokyo National Museum)