Chapter 28 4. Favorite Chinese Painting

In 1949, Song Meiling ended her life in the mainland and retreated to Taiwan Island. Since 1950, she has studied painting. She started to learn painting, not for artistic pursuit, nor for interest, it was completely accidental. "When I can't sleep at night, I paint," she said. Slowly, she realized the mystery and interest in it, and then reached a state: painting can make people forget their troubles! Painting can save people from anxiety! Painting is as pleasing and fascinating as "morning class"! Painting can cultivate self-cultivation. Soong Meiling's meticulous traditional Chinese painting, of course, is a teacher.It is said that Song Meiling's favorite teacher is Pu She.However, when Mr. Pu, a legacy of the former dynasty, heard that Mrs. Jiang wanted him to be a teacher to learn traditional Chinese painting, he said: "Our Qing Empire was overthrown by your Republic of China. How can I teach Song Meiling?"

Of course, this is just an anecdote, not credible.However, Song Meiling did not learn from Master Pu later. According to relevant information, Song Meiling learned traditional Chinese painting in her sixtieth year, and the people around her specially invited Mr. Huang Junbi and Zheng Manqing.Huang and Zheng were two masters of traditional Chinese painting in Taiwan at that time. At this time, Song Meiling also had the aggressive mentality of her youth, and went all out for what she wanted to do.It is said that in order to learn to paint, she can eat and drink without thinking. In the first few months, Soong Meiling would go into her study alone every afternoon, immersing herself in learning painting.Because I am still in the learning stage, the floor of the studio is full of crumpled waste drawing paper.

One day, when Soong Meiling was painting alone again, Chiang Kai-shek came to her study without saying a word, stood behind Soong Meiling and watched her painting quietly.Probably Chiang Kai-shek saw the discarded drawing papers everywhere on the ground, or perhaps to comfort the novice wife, he smiled softly behind her. Hearing Chiang Kai-shek's laughter, Soong Meiling turned her head, with a serious face, just glanced at it, and then said: "What are you laughing at? Have you never seen a painting?" Chiang Kai-shek felt that his wife was a little displeased, and he knew that he was bored, so he walked out of Song Meiling's study.

Soong Meiling studied painting and painting, and practiced fine brushwork for 20 years.According to the recollection of an attendant of the official residence: "Madam has profound artistic attainments and is diligent in painting. Most of the traditional Chinese paintings decorated in the mansion are from Madam's handwriting, and they are printed into books and distributed as gifts to Chinese and foreign friends." Learn to paint and cultivate your character, and enjoy painting.Art appreciation can reflect the level of a person's cultural accomplishment.Song Meiling not only paints, but also often goes out to see paintings.

All the treasures transported to Taiwan from the Palace Museum in Beijing were temporarily stored in Wufeng, Taichung, including many ancient paintings.For this reason, Song Meiling did not hesitate to run to Taichung every three days.Of course the staff knew what she was coming for, and they always took the trouble to bring out the ancient paintings in the library for Soong Meiling to watch. Soong Meiling appreciated calligraphy and painting, and later almost became obsessed. In 1973, the Grand Hotel Taipei was completed.Song Meiling specifically confessed to the management of Yuanshan that a copy of the Song Dynasty "Surfing the River During the Qingming Festival" in the Yuanshan Hotel should be hung on the wall of the coffee shop on the first floor of the hotel.Just when this copy of Qingming Shanghe Picture was completed, Song Meiling went to Yuanshan to inspect it in person.When she saw the reproduced picture, she was very satisfied.At that time, she had a whim and told the staff around her: "I think the most exciting part of the 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival' is the part of the Royal Garden on the left. Why don't we design a park in Taipei that completely imitates the 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival'? Try the appearance of the imperial garden."

As for the final outcome of Song Meiling's imitation of the park, this is not what this book will explain.However, Soong Meiling appreciates the culture and taste of life by appreciating paintings, which is not only unique, but also ingenious. Song Meiling's artistic conception of life makes her come from the ancients and surpass the ancients.