Text / Ma Xi-gui | Curator of China capital museum
In October 2015, a beautiful and sunny afternoon, I made a special trip to Xiame museum to visit Chinese relics repair expert and painter Mr. Zhao Qing-sheng, I have chance to appreciate the masterpieces of his copy——Shanxi youyu county Baoning temple shuilu painting between Tianshun years of Ming dynasty. And gained a book 《Majesty and shine——Zhao Qing-sheng shuilu painting art》, I read carefully when I back to Beijing, felt it is very good, for Mr. Zhao’s excellent copy technical skill, and the spirit of his tireless copied more than 20 years, I admire deeply.
There are 136 shuilu paintings of claborate heavy-color silk scroll in Shanxi Youyu county Baoning temple, painted in 4th Tianshun years(1460) of Ming dynasty, they were the holy things of Ming dynasty emperor Zhu Qi-zhen prayed for creations, so called:”Dingbian shuilu painting gods frame”, very precious, the content is rich, and large-scale, the skill is high level and gorgeous and elegant, these paintings are high-grade art masterpieces, therefore, classified as a national level cultural relics, collected in Shanxi museum now.
The batch of precious art masterpieces, due to the long circulating times, finally some subtle changes on them, and the protection has certain difficulty, often hid in secret room to protected effectively, hard to research、view and appreciation for the general public, can’t give full play to social benefits, it is a pity!
Mr. Zhao Qing-sheng from early 1980’s to early 21st century, worked in Shanxi province cultural relics bureau, engaged for protection and restoration of cultural relics, he accumulated rich experience in copying and superb drawing sills. Out of a cultural relics workers high sense of responsibility and dedication to the art of love, for rescue to protect these precious cultural heritage, and inherit the valuable artistic skills, advertise and display history, religion, and art value, he determined to complete all 136 claborate heavy-color shuilu painting copy works. After 23 years tireless and painstakingly work, eventually he realized the aspirations of copy works with high level and all around, accord with the original size, quality, technique and style.
The value and significance of Mr. Zhao Qing-sheng copied Ming dynasty Baoning temple shuilu painting, as the former deputy director Mr. Zhang Bai, in his article “Shuilu painting art inheritance and carry forward——Zhao Qing-sheng” said: “Copy national orphan works full set Baoning temple shuilu paintings”, is to protect our country religious painting type of on the verge of crisis, let the traditional artistry of Shuilu painting inherit and continue, and extend the service life of the original works, and make the national treasure collections out of the palace, meet with the public, let more people know and understand the ancient shuilu painting artistic style, promote and develop the national culture. And to leave a copy of the original painting, facilitate in other place for display, form a special display, so as to better protect this batch of shuilu painting original works, for the majority of scholars of ancient painting research, teaching and research institutions to provide detailed historical data, to protect and make use of the precious cultural relics more scientific. Really benefits for contemporary and future, the value and meaning will be highlighted with the passage of time more and more people praise and praise.