Congratulatory Letter

I am delighted to learn that the Ximalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitational Exhibition in Japan, as part of the 70th Japanese Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition, will be held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum from December 4 to 11. I hereby extend my warmest congratulations. As an advocate for building an East Asian Community, I believe that establishing a cultural community is equally important.
The Japanese Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition has long served as a bridge connecting different cultures and fostering mutual understanding, being an influential calligraphic arts event across Asia and worldwide. It has witnessed both the inheritance and innovation of calligraphic arts and the profound friendship and shared aspirations among the peoples of China, Japan, and other Asian nations. Now, as it reaches its 70th exhibition, this milestone not only reflects on its glorious journey but also looks forward to infinite possibilities for the future.
The Himalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitational Exhibition in Japan, hosted by the Japanese Calligraphy Art Association and co-organized by the Chinese Cultural Figures magazine, with support from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Japan, stands as a highlight of this Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition. Mr. Rong Tie's diverse artistic works, encompassing calligraphy, painting, and seal carving, are rich in content and meaning. This exhibition represents not only a profound dialogue between Chinese and Japanese artists but also a vivid manifestation of the spiritual and cultural connection between the two nations. I believe that this exhibition will enable more Japanese people to gain a deeper appreciation for the charm of traditional Chinese culture and foster a greater understanding and admiration of Chinese culture. This, in turn, will further promote cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Japan.
I extend my heartfelt wishes for the resounding success of the 70th Japanese Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition - Ximalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitational Exhibition in Japan! I also earnestly pray for the successful establishment of an East Asian cultural community.

Yukio Hatoyama
Former Prime Minister of Japan
Director of the East Asian Community Institute
November 6, 2024

A Congratulatory Letter from Li Meng, Vice Chairman of the 10th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, for the Ximalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitational Exhibition in Japan

Congratulatory Letter

Dear Mr. Rong Tie,
In this beautiful autumn season, filled with artistic fragrance, I am overjoyed to learn that the Ximalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitational Exhibition in Japan, organized by the Chinese Cultural Figures magazine, will be grandly held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. I hereby extend my warmest congratulations on behalf of myself for the successful staging of this exhibition and express my profound respect and sincere gratitude to Mr. Rong Tie for traveling abroad to spread the beauty of Chinese culture and art.
As an outstanding representative in the contemporary art field, Mr. Rong Tie's works not only embody the profound cultural heritage of our nation but also showcase a unique artistic perspective and innovative spirit. Your artistic creations serve as a bridge connecting tradition with modernity and East with West, allowing viewers to deeply experience the profound wisdom and contemporary vitality of Chinese culture while appreciating their beauty. This invitational exhibition in Japan undoubtedly provides a valuable window for Japanese citizens and the international art community to closely appreciate the charm of Chinese art and enhance cultural understanding and friendship between our two peoples.
Art knows no boundaries, and culture thrives on exchange. In today's increasingly globalized world, such art exhibitions not only promote the collision of inspiration and exchange of skills between artists from both countries but also inject new vitality into the advancement of Sino-Japanese cultural exchange and cooperation. I look forward to this exhibition becoming another important milestone in deepening friendship and seeking common development between the art communities of China and Japan, thus contributing to the construction of more harmonious and stable bilateral relations.
Finally, I wish the Ximalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitational Exhibition in Japan great success! May this exhibition become a feast for the soul, offering every visitor a profound sense of aesthetic enjoyment and spiritual inspiration. May the light of art illuminate our path forward, and may the seeds of love and peace take root and bloom in everyone's hearts and blossom into the most brilliant flowers.
Once again, congratulations, and I look forward to the exhibition's brilliant achievements!

Li Meng
Vice Chairman of the 10th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
November 3, 2024

Qin Zhigang, member of the Standing Committee of the 11th and 12th CPPCC National Committee, vice chairman of the 7th, 8th and 9th Committee of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and secretary of the Secretariat, wrote the preface for the exhibition

Preface

Civilizations flourish through diversity, exchange, and mutual learning. To promote friendship and cultural exchange between China and Japan, the 70th Oriental Calligraphy Art Exhibition will feature a special event, the Ximalaya: Rong Tie Artworks (Japan) Invitational Exhibition. This exhibition is hosted by the Oriental Calligraphy Art Association and co-hosted by Chinese Cultural Figures magazine, with support from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Japan, Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters, World News Alliance, Japan-China Communication Association (general corporation aggregate), Japan-China Friendship Association (public interest corporation aggregate), Tokyo Japan-China Friendship Association, Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society, Union of Chinese Residing in Japan, China Enterprises Association (Japan) (CEAJ), Association of World Artists (general corporation aggregate), Seika Corporation, Friends of the Earth (public interest consortium), etc. The Himalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitation (Japan) Exhibition will take place from December 4 to December 11 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.
Rong Tie, a distinguished member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Chinese Artists Association, and Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society, as well as Vice Dean of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, China Democratic League, has achieved remarkable success in calligraphy, painting, and seal carving. He is an artist with global influence.In ink painting, he has pioneered the Ink Halo School through his exploration of the aesthetic realm of landscape painting with ink halos and enriched Chinese painting techniques. In calligraphy, he admires and follows the style of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi, thus establishing his own distinctive approach while adhering to classical principles and naturally producing masterpieces in regular, cursive, clerical, and seal scripts. In seal carving, he incorporates scripts from brick inscriptions and mirror engravings, creating works that are bold, unadorned, and uniquely distinctive. Additionally, he has successfully developed the Chinese Character Historical Font Database and established the Chinese Calligraphy Resource Platform, earning him recognition as the pioneer of Chinese calligraphy digitalization. His works in painting, calligraphy, and seal carving are collected by prestigious institutions including Zhongnanhai, the Great Hall of the People, the National Art Museum of China, the Yanhuang Art Museum, the Chinese Seal Museum, and the Centre Pompidou in France.
Through this exhibition, we aim to create a vibrant platform for cultural dialogue and artistic exchange between Japanese and Chinese artists. This endeavor not only preserves and innovates traditional culture but also fosters the continued growth of calligraphy and painting in both nations.

Qin Zhigang
Standing Committee Member of the 11th and 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Vice Chairman of the 7th, 8th, and 9th China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group, and Secretary of the Secretariat

Chinese Cultural Figures (Wang Baosheng, Editor-in-Chief) The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Cultural Exchange Agreement. To promote friendship and cultural exchange between China and Japan, the 70th Oriental Calligraphy Art Exhibition will feature a special event, the Himalaya: Rong Tie Artworks (Japan) Invitational Exhibition. This exhibition is hosted by the Oriental Calligraphy Art Association and co-hosted by Chinese Cultural Figures magazine, with support from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Japan, Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters, World News Alliance, Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society, Japan-China Communication Association (general corporation aggregate), Japan-China Friendship Association (public interest corporation aggregate), Tokyo Japan-China Friendship Association, Union of Chinese Residing in Japan, China Enterprises Association (Japan) (CEAJ), Association of World Artists (general corporation aggregate), Seika Corporation, Friends of the Earth (public interest consortium), etc. The Himalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitation (Japan) Exhibition will take place from December 4 to December 11 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.
Rong Tie, a distinguished member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Chinese Artists Association, and Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society, as well as Vice Dean of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, China Democratic League, will join artists from China, Japan, South Korea, and other East Asian countries for this cultural exchange event. Through the mediums of calligraphy and painting, the exhibition fosters mutual understanding and builds bridges between people.
The Himalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitation (Japan) Exhibition, as part of the 70th Oriental Calligraphy Art Exhibition, will showcase over 60 of Rong Tie's recent works in calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, and seal carving.
Rong Tie is a multifaceted artist with profound accomplishments in traditional Chinese culture. He is highly skilled in calligraphy, proficient in painting, adept in seal carving, and versed in poetry and literature. Serving as a council member of the China Artists Association, China Calligraphers Association, and Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society, Rong Tie embodies a comprehensive approach to art.
Trained by masters such as Lin Sanzhi and Sha Manweng, Rong Tie is renowned for his running script and Zhangcao calligraphy, making him a contemporary innovator in the art form. He approaches Zhangcao not merely through imitation or replication but through bold exploration aligned with the spirit of the times. Renowned poet, scholar, and calligrapher Lin Xiu, a consultant to the Chinese Calligraphers Association, once commented that Rong Tie's calligraphy primarily focuses on seal and clerical script styles. Unconstrained by rigid formality, he enjoys unexpected and quirky expressions that seem to align perfectly with his personal temperament and come naturally to him. What impressed me most about Rong Tie's calligraphic work is the interplay between seal carving and writing—as if the writing emerges from the seal, and the seal emerges from the writing, with a complementary resonance. His calligraphic and seal carving works pursue an elegant and spirited quality, with broad compositions, dynamic and floating dots and lines, and a uniquely charged brushwork. Consequently, his strokes—whether by knife or brush—capture a sense of effortless charm. His seal script technique draws from Han dynasty mirror inscriptions, while the clerical script style is inspired by Han brick inscriptions, blending together naturally with a distinct metallic and stone-like quality. His brushwork balances hardness and softness, with expansive, sweeping movements. The varied ink tones and the overall composition's alternating density create a strong rhythmic sense, maintaining an authentic artistic spirit that has developed into a broad and robust calligraphic style in recent years that resonates with traditional aesthetics while embracing modern sensibilities.
The Himalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitation (Japan) Exhibition aims to showcase new creations and new developments in contemporary Chinese calligraphy, painting, and seal carving through artistic exchange and make a positive contribution to telling Chinese stories and promoting cultural exchange between China and Japan.
About Rong Tie
Rong Tie is a council member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Chinese Artists Association, and Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society, as well as a central committee member of the China Democratic League. He previously served as Deputy Director of the Department of Culture in the Tibet Autonomous Region and is currently the Artistic Director and Vice President of Kaiming Press, as well as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Kaiming Culture and Education Audio Visual Publishing House. He has represented China at the 10th and 11th National Congresses of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Additionally, Rong Tie holds numerous prestigious roles, including member of the Calligraphy Criticism and Cultural Communication Committee of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Vice Chairman of the Cultural Committee of the China Democratic League, Vice President of the China National Academy of Ethnic Painting, Vice President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, China Democratic League, expert evaluator for the China National Arts Fund, expert for the Evaluation Committee of the National Art Museum of China, executive director of the China Collectors Association, president of the Seal Collection and Research Society, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Collectors Association, Level-1 Art Professional, expert on the Senior Professional Title Review Committee of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, special researcher at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, special appointed painter at Xinhua News Agency's Xinhua Painting and Calligraphy Academy, instructor for advanced studies in Calligraphy and Seal Carving at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, advisor to the Calligraphers Association of the Tibet Autonomous Region, visiting professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, visiting professor at Tibet University, professor at Beijing University of Financial Technology, visiting professor at Kede College of Capital Normal University, president of the Painting and Calligraphy Academy of China Wisdom Engineering Research Institute, and pioneer in the digitalization of Chinese calligraphy.
Rong Tie was born in the ancient city of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. He began studying calligraphy at the age of six, followed by painting at fifteen, and seal carving at sixteen. He was mentored by renowned masters such as Lin Sanzhi and Sha Manweng. In late 2014, in his fifties, Rong Tie embarked on a heartfelt journey to Tibet as part of the seventh group of cultural cadre aid workers sent by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China. His experiences on the Tibetan Plateau enriched both his life and artistic style. In 2015, Rong Tie achieved a remarkable feat: at the Everest Base Camp, 5,200 meters above sea level, he held a 15-kilogram brush and, over six grueling hours, created a 105-meter-long scroll combining painting, Tibetan calligraphy, and seal carving. This monumental work, titled Depicting the World’s Summit: Blessings from the Sacred Land, was broadcast live globally and entered the Guinness World Records. Through this extraordinary effort, Rong Tie showcased the unique splendor of Tibet to the world.
Rong Tie has achieved remarkable success in calligraphy, painting, and seal carving. His paintings blend the delicate charm of Jiangnan’s water towns with the majestic grandeur of the Tibetan Plateau, showcasing both the traditional brushwork of Chinese literati and the visual language of contemporary aesthetics. His Tibetan landscape paintings deliver a powerful visual impact and merges the tangible physical world with the intangible spiritual realm, thus expanding the expressive scope of landscape art. Rong Tie’s calligraphy is bold and vigorous in structure, with diverse compositions and a distinctly modern style. His seal carvings are fresh and elegant, establishing a unique approach within the field. By seamlessly integrating painting, calligraphy, and seal carving, he has forged an innovative artistic path. His Ink Halo Series has been widely acclaimed for its originality and audience appeal.
Rong Tie’s works in painting, calligraphy, and seal carving are part of the collections of prestigious institutions, including Zhongnanhai, the Great Hall of the People, the National Art Museum of China, the Yanhuang Art Museum, the Chinese Seal Museum, and the Centre Pompidou in France.