Jun 18.2022 Jul 31.2022 - Exhibition

Grand opening for "Bodhicitta: Maestro of Buddhist Art Xia Jing Shan’s Avalokitêśvara Exhibitions"

Contemporary Buddhist art giant Xia Jing Shan (1923-2019) is also known by his courtesy name Guanghua, nickname Nanzhu, and alias Puqian. Xia Jing Shan's Avalokitêśvara has hundred images and gestures. It may be shown sitting in a fairyland surrounded by strange stones, dead leaves and clouds, or standing on the waves, all of which are painted in Xia Jing Shan’s unique style. Avalokitêśvara, which symbolizes compassion and love and can purify the sufferings of all sentient beings, is a popular belief among a wide range of people. Painted by Xia Jing Shan, the image of Avalokitêśvara sitting in meditation gives people a sense of peace and tranquility. The theme of this exhibition is "White-robed Avalokitêśvara" by Xia Jing Shan, showing the images and appearances of Avalokitêśvara Buddha statues that not only inherit the tradition but also open their own faces and eyes. Qingtian Academy is located in a quiet corner of Qingtian Street. It is also a gathering place for three master Sinologists, namely Nan Huai-Chin, Xia Jing Shan and Yu You-ren, who were also teachers and friends to each other. Qingtian Street was inhabited by many professors and scholars after the war, bringing together many artistic and literary figures. Moreover, Nan Huai-chin, a master of Sinology, also chose to set up the Zen Seven Dharma Association at Qingtian Street at that time. The exhibition name "Bodhicitta" is a combination of Xia Jing Shan's and Yu You-ren's bynames each expressing a quality or an attribute of theirs and a reminder to their beautiful karma of devotion to "bodhicitta" at that time. Through the art of Buddhist painting by Xia Jing Shan, this exhibition not only inherits the essence of Chinese culture and Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism but also links the two masters of Sinology with the profound cultural heritage and historical trajectory of Qingtian Street.

Guidance unit: Taipei City Government
Organizer: Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation
Case Handling Unit: Lissome Art & Culture Co., Ltd.
Co-organizer: Yu You-ren Memorial Hall and Qingtian Academy
Exhibition Instructions: Take off your shoes and put on socks when entering; Closed on Mondays

Jan 23.2022 Mar 1.2022 - Exhibition

"2020 Jing Shan Classic, Cultural & Creative Arts Awards" and Opening Ceremony of "Hundred Images of Zhong Kui Celebrating New Year: Maestro Xia Jing Shan’s Zhong Kui Exhibition" made its debut at Chiayi Evergreen Palace Hotel on January 23

"2020 Jing Shan Classic, Cultural & Creative Arts Awards" and the opening ceremony of "Hundred Images of Zhong Kui Celebrating New Year: Maestro Xia Jing Shan's Zhong Kui Exhibition" were held at 2 p.m. on January 23rd at Chiayi Evergreen Palace Hotel. On behalf of the organizer, Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang and Chao Chung-Chieh (CEO of Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation) delivered the opening remarks. Meanwhile, Lai Ching-Te, Vice President of Taiwan, made a special pre-recorded video to congratulate the event. This year's foreign judges and overseas winners were unable to attend the ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but all of them participated in the ceremony through video. During the ceremony, Maestro Xia Jing Shan's eight-meter Buddhist painting "Manjushri" was publicly displayed in Taiwan for the first time.

Maestro Xia Jing Shan had a deep relationship with Chiayi. He lived in Chiayi for nine years after he arrived in Taiwan in 1949. The holding of "Jing Shan Classic, Cultural & Creative Arts Awards Ceremony" in Chiayi not only continued the deep relationship between Master Jing Shan and Chiayi, but also made a contribution by bringing in an international cultural and creative event to Chiayi. Under the theme of "philanthropy" in Maestro Xia Jing Shan's work, this 4th "Jing Shan Classic, Cultural & Creative Arts Awards" had received nearly 1,500 entries from 91 countries. Through this international competition, we hope to convey and spread Maestro Xia Jing Shan’s original intention of philanthropy all over the world. Winners of this competition included not only outstanding young creators from Taiwan, also but artists from the United States, Germany, India, Colombia and Iran.

Through his video, Vice President Lai affirmed this competition for its allowing Taiwanese artists to communicate with the world, and he also said he was excited to see the display of these creative aesthetics. Dr. Chao Chung-Chieh, CEO of the Foundation, said that this award had been held for four times and that it had attracted the attention of creators around the world this year; so, the Foundation would work even harder in the future. Dr. Chao continued that as Maestro Xia Jing Shan lived in Chiayi for nine years when he came to Taiwan, this year's award ceremony held in Chiayi made this profound geographical relationship especially meaningful. Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang praised Maestro Xia Jing Shan's painting and writing skills. In addition to the award ceremony, County Magistrate Weng made a special introduction to the exhibition "Hundred Images of Zhong Kui Celebrating New Year" by saying that Zhong Kui symbolized the slaying and elimination of demons in the traditional sense; as such, he hoped that this exhibition would help end the scourge of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

It was a special gift to the art lovers during the Spring Festival that Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation and Chiayi County Government hosted this "Hundred Images of Zhong Kui Celebrating New Year: Maestro Xia Jing Shan's Zhong Kui Exhibition" at the exhibition hall on the first floor of Evergreen Palace Hotel. A number of classic masterpieces of Zhong Kui series painted by Maestro Xia Jing Shan were selected for this exhibition, in which Zhong Kui might be incarnated as a literato drinking tea, watching flowers, appreciating waterfalls, playing with cranes, or interacting with the little ghosts. Maestro Xia used cinnabar and brush and ink in a freehand style to convey the profound and auspicious meanings of those stories. In 2020, this exhibition was held at the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and was well-received by its viewers. Among the paintings, the 10-meter-long horizontal scroll of the original "Zhong Kui's Housewarming Auspicious Picture" was the highlight of the exhibition. Zhong Kui, the little ghosts, and family members were painted with delicate and meticulous brushwork in a lively house-moving activity, adding a strong sense of blessing and festivity. The exhibition runs until March 1.

Jan 2.2022 Mar 7.2022 - Exhibition

"Jing Shan Īsvara: Maestro of Buddhist Art: Xia Jing Shan’s Bodhisattva Exhibitions" Held at Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery in Taichung

"Jing Shan Īsvara: Maestro of Buddhist Art: Xia Jing Shan's Bodhisattva Exhibitions" was held on January 2, 2021 at Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery Taichung. Chief Abbess Jueju of Fo Guang Shan Central Taiwan Vihara delivered the welcome speech at the opening ceremony, while Fo Guang Shan Head Abbot, Most Ven Hsin Bau and Dr. Chao Chung-Chieh, Executive Director of Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation, delivered the opening remarks on behalf of the organizers. Shiah Kuei-Chun, Chairman of Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation; Tsai Chi-Chang, Vice President of Legislative Yuan; Legislator Ma,Wen-Chun; Lee Kuo-mo, famous teacher of calligraphy and painting; and other distinguished guests attended the event. Displayed during the opening ceremony was "Buddha", a seven-meter giant painting by Maestro Xia Jing Shan, which the Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation donated to Hui Chung Temple for the latter’s permanent collection, so that all visitors to Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery Taichung can appreciate it to get comfort and pray for the end of the world's calamities.

Vice President of the Legislative Yuan Tsai Chi-Chang said that Maestro Xia Jing Shan is the pinnacle of Taiwanese meticulous painting and an internationally renowned artist. He was very grateful to the organizer for hosting this exhibition at Hui Chung Temple, so that friends in central Taiwan can enjoy world-class art. Fo Guang Shan Head Abbot, Most Ven Hsin Bau said in his speech that Maestro Xia Jing Shan and Venerable Master Hsing Yun were highly matched in their philosophy to advocate arts and culture and this exhibition at Hui Chung Temple was a rare privilege to everyone; Master Jueju, Chief Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Central Taiwan Vihara thanked Maestro Xia Jing Shan for comforting people with Buddhist paintings. Lee Kuo-Mo, a famous painter and calligrapher, recited in his speech that when he learned meticulous painting after Master Xia, he learned not only the painting skills but also the ways to behave as a decent man. Legislator Ma,Wen-Chun said she pays great attention to Maestro Xia Jing Shan's paintings and felt particularly honored to see his original works at this exhibition. Chao Chung-Chieh, CEO of Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation, briefed in his speech how the Foundation had been interacting with the world in recent years; for example, the Foundation began in 2020 to cooperate with Sotheby's Institute of Art in London for the "Xia Jing Shan & Sotheby's Oriental Art project”.

Displaying the classic series of Maestro Xia Jing Shan, this exhibition was first exhibited at Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum in April 2020, displayed at Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery Taipei in August, and moved to Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery in Taichung in spring 2021. Masterpieces selected for this "Jing Shan Īsvara: Maestro of Buddhist Art: Xia Jing Shan's Bodhisattva Exhibitions" included the paintings of Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Avalokitêśvara, protector Jia Lan, Skanda, and the Arhats who abide by the true Dharma.

At the opening ceremony, the Foundation unveiled the 7-meter-long "Buddha", a masterpiece on silk completed by Maestro Xia Jing Shan in 1996. In the painting, Buddha is seated on the lotus seat of Sumeru, with the Dharma seal on his right hand and the meditation seal on his left hand. The details of the entire work are so complicated that its painter must have completed it with a high degree of concentration and a respectful and devout heart. No wonder, it is regarded as the pinnacle of Buddhist painting art.

"Jing Shan Īsvara: Maestro of Buddhist Art: Xia Jing Shan's Bodhisattva Exhibitions" will be on display until March 7th. In addition, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on January 17th, the organizer will hold a special educational event: "Appreciation of Maestro Xia Jing Shan's Buddhist Paintings with Expert Dialogue", which will be hosted by Chao Chung-Chieh, CEO of Xia Jing Shan Arts and Culture Foundation while Pan Fan, former President of Tainan Art Museum will be invited for a dialogue. Exhibited on the same day will be the “Avalokiteśvara with Thousand Hands and Eyes”, the huge nine-meter painting by Maestro Xia Jing Shan. Everyone is welcome to grasp this rare opportunity to participate and appreciate.

Jan 1.2022 Feb 28.2022 - Exhibition

" Immortal Officials of Happiness, Wealth, and Longevity Gather in Celebration: Zhong Kui Exhibition of Mastero Xia Jing Shan"

Maestro Xia Jing Shan (1923-2019), a giant of contemporary Buddhist painting art, known as "First Buddhist Art Maestro Across Centuries", has a position of inheriting the past and leading the future in the field of Buddhist painting and calligraphy. Master Xia's Buddhist paintings transcend religious image norms and create a new realm of trans-era aesthetics that is pure and refined. His works have been successively selected and collected as the representative of oriental art by not only "Sotheby's Institute of Art (London)", but also Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, China Beijing The Palace Museum, National Museum of China, Buddha Museum, etc.

In traditional culture, Zhong Kui is the god not only to protect and bless every household but also to subdue and eliminate demons. Among Master Xia's life-long painting career, the Zhong Kui series can best highlight his profound calligraphy and brushwork and his unique artistic color, fully expressing his understanding of the vast world. Although beginning to paint Zhong Kui at his senior age, Maestro Xia Jing Shan completed over one thousand portraits of Zhong Kui, each of which is extraordinary not only in beauty but also in artistic conception.

His inherited the styles and techniques of traditional calligraphy and painting, especially those from the Zhejiang School and Shanghai School in Ming and Qing Dynasties. He drew inspiration from the exaggerated and dramatic images of Zhong Kui but polished them with his own delicate and rich coloring style and auspicious meanings of Buddhist paintings to present a peaceful and joyful atmosphere. Different from the traditional impression of Zhong Kui in subduing and eliminating demons, his paintings of Zhong Kui have a flair of wisdom essence from Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism and are full of pictorial vocabulary of the literati, such as waterfalls, playing with cranes, drinking, and tea tasting. He injected Buddhist philosophy into the popular Zhong Kui images by using a vernacular language to write his new learning of Buddhism, conveying the idea that goodness suppresses all evils and persuading people to do good deeds and to accumulate virtue. As a result, his paintings of Zhong Kui are unique and full of contemporary feeling.

Selected for this exhibition are 16 classic masterpieces from Xia Jing Shan's Zhong Kui series and they are presented under four themes, namely household protector Zhong Kui, luck bringer Zhong Kui, literato Zhong Kui, and Buddha-mind Zhong Kui. Each of the 16 paintings is vivid and profound, reflecting how much Master Xia wished to use his traditional but innovating paintings to convey his vision of truth, goodness and beauty for the world and make people feel at ease and peaceful through the art of calligraphy and painting and the wisdom of Buddhism. As such, we also wish your new year will usher in a thousand blessings, rich and beautiful.