Shang, Delin

Shang, Delin (1956----)   He is a calligrapher, sculptor,and a gifted Chinese name seal carver.   Shang De-Lin is very involved in the art community as President of the American Chinese Calligraphy and Carving Association, Observer of the United Nations UNCC, External expert of Chinese Painting Research Organization, Senior Supervisor of the Overseas Chinese Character Writing Art Association, and a member of theChinese Art Association. A poem from one of Song Dynasty’s greatest poets, Su Shi:

“ShuiDiao GeTou (水調歌頭) Middle Autumn Year of the Bing Chen
When will the moon be bright?
Holding the wine, I ask the sky.
What year is it today in the heavens?
I want to ride the wind and go back to the heavens,
But I am afraid the jeweled palace is too high
And cold to stay.
Under the moonlight
Make a beautiful dancing shadow.
Am I still on the earth?
The moonlight makes the red mansion change
Touches the silk-pad door
It is shining on the sleepless people’s night.
It should not have any regrets.
Why must the moon always be round when people apart?
People have sadness and happiness, at parting and gathering together.
The Moon has a shadow, is shining, full moon, and crescentmoon,
It has always been like this from a long, long time ago
We only can wish for people to have longevity
And dear ones can always be together 
Even when they are apart a thousand miles away
Their hearts are still together under the moon.”

Shang De-Lin uses hieroglyphics to emprise the deep thoughts of the poem, For example, the character ming2眠   has to show that two eyes are wide open depicting the sleepless person. He2何   means a person is carrying something.  In Shang De-Lin’s carving the three showings of he2 all look like the shape that someone is carrying something.  An even better example is the Chang2長character which originally meant a person with long hair and a person pointing into the distance.  The artist cleverly implies through his artwork the meaning of a long time and a long distance at the same time to convey the meaning he misses his family or his loved ones.  Shang De-Lin specializes in the Zhuan4 ti3篆體字 characters.  Each Zhuan4 ti3篆體字character speaks on its own and represents a story, expressing a unique charm and pride of Chinese culture.

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