Yu Lejun

Yu Lejun, also known as Lao Le, has studio names including Leijing Zhai, Jing Zhai, Hetang, and Hetang. He graduated from the Department of History at Sichuan University in 1994. He is a member of the China Calligraphers Association, Vice Chairman of the Guangxi Youth Calligraphers Association, Vice Chairman of the Liuzhou City Calligraphers Association, Deputy Director of Hushan Yin Society, founding member of the Lizilin Calligraphy Group, and a specially appointed calligrapher for China书画. He has been nominated for "Top 20 Outstanding Calligraphers and Seal Carvers of Guangxi" by China书画, and received a nomination for "Top Ten Young Calligraphers of Guangxi" from the Beijing Public Welfare Ink Foundation. Main Artistic Resume: 1988   Won first prize in Nandan County's inaugural hard-pen calligraphy competition. 1989   Won first prize in the Hechi Region High School Calligraphy Competition and the special prize in the Hechi College and University Calligraphy Contest. 1990   Admitted to the Department of History at Sichuan University, studied calligraphy under Professor He Zhen, a scholar of ancient Chinese characters and calligrapher, and received guidance from renowned Sichuan master Zhou Haoran. 1991   Won third prize in the National Second College Students Hard-Pen Calligraphy Competition. 1992   Won second prize in the National Weimei Cup Hard-Pen Calligraphy Competition. 1993   Served as Chairman of the Student Calligraphy Association at Sichuan University and joined the Sichuan Calligraphy Studies Society. His calligraphy won first prize in the 10th Calligraphy Competition at Sichuan University; received an honorable mention in the National First Wutai Mountain Cup Calligraphy and Painting Grand Prize; the article "Yu Shinan and His Calligraphic Art" was selected for the Sixth Sichuan Calligraphy Symposium. 1994—1999   After graduation, assigned to Liuzhou; due to work and life pressures, he temporarily neglected calligraphy, though occasional works were published in professional journals such as Art Outlook and Youth Calligraphy. 2000   Participated in the founding exhibition of the Liuzhou Painting Academy's Calligraphy Department and was appointed as an external artist of the Liuzhou Painting Academy. 2001   As one of the principal founders, participated in establishing Liuzhou's first calligraphy grassroots organization—Lizilin. 2002   Received an honorable mention in the National First Small-Scale Calligraphy and Painting Competition; during a temporary posting in Beijing, visited the first exhibition of Popular Style Calligraphy and Seal Carving. 2003   His calligraphy was selected for the National Second Running and Cursive Script Exhibition (the only entry from Guangxi); won second prize in the First Guangxi Middle-aged and Young Calligraphy and Seal Carving Exhibition. 2004   Organized and participated in the First Lizilin Calligraphy and Seal Carving Exhibition, "Ink Flowing Like Smoke"—Liuzhou Painting Academy Calligraphy Nomination Exhibition; won second prize in the 20th Anniversary Exhibition of the Guangxi Association of Social Sciences; won third prize in the First Guangxi Road Culture Calligraphy Exhibition. 2005   His calligraphy was selected for the Fifth China Calligraphy New Talent Exhibition, the First Xiling Yinshe Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition, the Pan-Pearl River Delta "9+2" Calligraphy Joint Exhibition, the First Guangxi Calligraphers and Artists Association Annual Exhibition; selected for the "Xian Furen Cup" National Calligraphy Art Competition; received the "2004–2005 Annual Calligraphy Elite Nomination" from Calligraphy Network; won second prize in the Second Guangxi Middle-aged and Young Calligraphy and Seal Carving Exhibition; won first prize in the Guangxi Guizhong Three Cities Calligraphy Joint Exhibition; won second prize in the China Calligraphy Forum Online Exhibition. 2006   His calligraphy was selected for the National First Cursive Script Exhibition, the First Xiling Yinshe Scroll Exhibition, the First Xiling Yinshe Couplet Exhibition, and the First Xiling Yinshe Fan Exhibition; participated in the "Hand in Hand with ASEAN" Guangxi Nine-Calligrapher Masterpieces Exhibition; planned and participated in the Calligraphy Network Grassroots Organization Exhibition—Lizilin Exhibition, the Third Lizilin Calligraphy Exhibition, and the Liuzhou-Foshan Youth Calligraphy Joint Exhibition; his works were presented as gifts to internationally renowned urban planner and former U.S. President Clinton’s technology advisor William McDonough, and John Porter, Executive Director of International Cooperation at Intel Corporation. 2007   Joined the China Calligraphers Association; nominated by China书画 magazine for "Top 20 Outstanding Calligraphers and Seal Carvers of Guangxi." His calligraphy was selected for the First Western China Calligraphy Exhibition and the National Exhibition Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of Fu Shan’s Birth. Held the "Yu Lejun Calligraphy Exhibition" in Liuzhou, simultaneously launched on Calligraphy Network. Participated in the Liuzhou 1970s Representative Calligraphers Exhibition. His calligraphy won first prize in the Guangxi Bagua Qunxing Award for Calligraphy, and third prize in the Third Guangxi Middle-aged and Young Calligraphy and Seal Carving Exhibition. Published Masterpieces of National Middle-aged and Young Calligraphers · Yu Lejun. 2008   Appointed Vice Chairman of the Liuzhou City Calligraphers Association and News Observer for the Sixth National New Talent Calligraphy Exhibition. His works were selected for the National Second Seal Script Exhibition, the National Invitation Exhibition of Middle-aged and Young Calligraphy Masters, "Global Calligraphers Co-write Olympic Scroll," the National Thousand Postcards Thousand Works Exhibition, the 50th Anniversary Exhibition of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and the China-ASEAN Youth Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition. Shortlisted for the National First Album Exhibition and collected by the China Petroleum Calligraphy Association. Liuzhou Radio and Television Daily featured a special article: "Yu Lejun's Calligraphic Art." 2009   Served as judge and supervisor for the "GuanYa Cup" Guangxi Calligraphy Competition. From this year onward, ceased participating in national exhibitions, focusing solely on the intrinsic essence of calligraphy. Participated in the "Baugu Shufeng" Outstanding Works Beijing Exhibition, the "Pingchuan Cup" National Calligraphy Masters Invitation Exhibition, the National Invitation Exhibition of Calligraphy Masters at Ancient Village De’anli, the 23rd Anniversary Exhibition of Liuzhou Painting Academy, the Liuzhou Poetic, Calligraphic, and Painting Exhibition Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the PRC, and the Fourth Lizilin Calligraphy and Seal Carving Exhibition "Lizidan Xi." Qilin magazine featured a special article: "Yu Lejun: The 'Naive One' Standing on the Shoulders of Masters." 2010   Participated in the "FuTuo Cup" National Calligraphy Masters Couplet Exhibition, the 60th Anniversary Exhibition of the Guangxi Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Guangxi Fine Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition to Vietnam, the Fujian Hu Mei Jiu Yuan Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, and the Liuzhou Youth Calligraphy Elite Exhibition. Featured by ASEAN Satellite TV. 2011   Participated in the National Invitation Exhibition of One Hundred Calligraphy Masters, the 30th Anniversary Exhibition of the Zaozhuang City Calligraphers Association and Masters Calligraphy Invitation Exhibition, the Youth Calligraphy Joint Exhibition of Foshan, Liuzhou, and Guigang, and the "Beautiful Liuzhou" Calligraphy Exhibition to Beijing. His works were collected by the Guangxi Library. 2012   Participated in the "Poetry and Calligraphy Yizheng" National Calligraphy Masters Exhibition, the Three-Province Eight-City Youth Calligraphy Exhibition, the Liuzhou-Neijiang Calligraphy Masters Joint Exhibition "Beautiful Liuzhou," and the Second Liuzhou Youth Calligraphy Elite Exhibition. 2013   Appointed Vice Chairman of the Guangxi Youth Calligraphers Association. Held the "Lao Le Xian Mo · Yu Lejun Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition" in Liuzhou, published Lao Le Xian Mo · Collection of Yu Lejun's Calligraphy and Painting. Won first prize in the Chinese Calligraphy Network Regular Script Creation Competition and the Outstanding Seal Carving Award (government’s highest honor) in the First Guangxi Art Exhibition. Participated in the North-South Calligraphy Elite Joint Exhibition, "Ancient Form, Modern Study"—Ancient Brick Inkstone Rubbing and Inscription Exhibition, "Boundless Serenity"—Six Pan Water Art Museum Inauguration and National Calligraphy Masters Invitation Exhibition, the First Guangxi Mass Calligraphy and Fine Art Exhibition, "Mountain Valley Wind"—Hechi Calligraphy Exhibition to Nanning, the First Liuzhou Copying Exhibition (invited), and the "Love from Guizhou" National Masters Calligraphy and Painting Charity Auction. 2014   Attended Fang Yan’s Beijing Chinese Painting Study Class. Served as judge for the "Xincheng Cup" Calligraphy Competition, the 11th Liuzhou Youth Calligraphy Competition, and the "Guan Tianxia Cup" Second Guigang Youth Calligraphy Competition. As Vice Chairman of Guangxi Youth Calligraphers Association, participated in the National Youth Calligraphers Association Alliance Summit held in Zhejiang Wenzhou. Participated in the Ninth International Symposium on Chinese Calligraphy Education and International Calligraphy Exhibition, the China-ASEAN Youth Art Competition and Guangxi Youth Art Exhibition, the First Guangxi Youth Calligraphy Exhibition, the "Shuicheng Youyue" National Calligraphy Masters Invitation Exhibition, the Dapeng Calligraphy and Painting Academy Inauguration and National Calligraphy Masters Invitation Exhibition, the Four-Province (Zhejiang-Shaanxi-Hunan-Guangxi) Youth Power Calligraphers Small Format Exhibition, and was invited to attend the inaugural exhibition and academic activities in Changsha. 2015   The China Calligraphy Network's "Recommended Series Exhibition of Middle-aged and Young Power Calligraphers and Painters" launched the "Yang Zhuo · Lao Le Calligraphy Exhibition"; inscribed the plaque "Dao Tong Gu Jin" for the Huilong Temple in Guinan, Chenzhou, Hunan. The Seventh Congress of the Liuzhou City Calligraphers Association convened, re-elected as Vice Chairman. Served as judge for the First "You En Cup" National Calligraphy and Painting Competition and the Liuzhou Workers’ Calligraphy and Painting Competition. His calligraphy was invited to participate in the Second Shaanxi Youth Calligraphy Exhibition and National Calligraphy Masters Invitation Exhibition, the "Beautiful South, Fragrant Ink"—Liuzhou, Guilin, Hechi, Laibin Calligraphy Nomination Exhibition, the "Smoke and Willow Rhythm"—Yantai-Liuzhou Calligraphy and Seal Carving Joint Exhibition, and the "Zhi Gong Sentiment"—Liuzhou Zhi Gong Calligraphy and Painting Academy Exhibition Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of the Zhi Gong Party. 2016   Nominated by the Beijing Ink Public Welfare Foundation as one of the "Top Ten Young Calligraphers of Guangxi"; appointed Vice Chairman of the Running Script Committee of the Beijing Nanbei Calligraphy and Painting Academy. Held the "Chen Yu Le Yan · Yu Lejun and Chen Yan Calligraphy and Painting Miniature Exhibition" in Liuzhou. Participated in the "Top Ten Young Calligraphers of Guangxi Exhibition (Beijing)," the First Academic Annual Exhibition of Beijing Nanbei Calligraphy and Painting Academy, the "Haiyue Fenghua" Calligraphy Invitation Exhibition by China书画 Magazine, and the Contemporary Calligraphy and Painting Hundred Masters Invitation Exhibition. Featured in Contemporary Guangxi, Calligraphy News, and Quanzhou Airport. 2017   Won the highest government award in calligraphy and seal carving at the 2017 Guangxi Art Exhibition. Participated in the Guangxi Top Ten Young Calligraphers Masterpieces Exhibition, the National Chan-Inspired Calligraphy Exhibition, the "He Tian Xia" National Calligraphy Masters Nomination Exhibition, the "Marine Flower Island" National Hundred Calligraphers' Long Scroll of the Diamond Sutra Exhibition, the Liuzhou Fine Arts and Calligraphy Touring Exhibition (Foshan), the Liuzhou-Nanning-Guilin Calligraphy and Art Joint Exhibition, and the Liuzhou-Wuzhou Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition.