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Liu Langsheng
Liu Langsheng
Personal Profile
Liu Langsheng, a contemporary poet and master of calligraphy and painting.Born in November 1970, male, Han ethnicity, from Jing'an, Jiangxi Province. Also known by the studio names Baoyong Studio, Ink-and-Water庸 Studio, Xie Xin Pavilion, and Jie Tang, among others. Currently holds the national professional title of Level-One Artisan as evaluated by China's Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security; Award-winning artist of the China National Academy of Painting; Member of the Chinese Artists Association’s National Guidance Committee for Ink Painting Creation; Registered Senior Calligraphy Teacher with membership in the Chinese Calligraphers Association; Standing Committee Member of the Regional Examination Center Federation of the Chinese Calligraphers Association; Art Committee Member of the China Calligraphy Research Institute; Member and Research Fellow of the Chinese Poetry Society; Guest Professor at the China College of Calligraphy Education; Special-appointed calligrapher and painter for six national art publications including "China Calligraphy & Painting Daily" and "China Calligraphy Guide". In January 2015, the Yichun Municipal People's Government awarded him the title of First Cultural Celebrity; Special-appointed Guest Professor and member of the Art Expert Group at Qilu College of Literature, Jilin University; Art Director of Shandong's "Qilu Poetry Journal"; Art Director of the magazine "Enterprise Charm" published by the Nanchang City Entrepreneurs Association; Calligraphy Instructor at Xingmo Hall, a certification training institution under the Chinese Calligraphers Association; Station Director of the "Calligraphy News" Local Office; Executive President of the China·Tsinghua Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting Academy; Vice President of the Jing'an Poetry Society; Vice President of the Jing'an Couplet Society; First Vice Chairman of the Jing'an Calligraphers Association.Featured cover personality of "Modern Enterprise Culture" (All-China Federation of Trade Unions), "Western Pride" (All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce), and "Golden Ideas Business" (State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television's Periodical Array); Featured artistic personality on Renminwang, CCTV.com, China Artists Network, China Calligraphers Network, Chinese Poetry Network, and CCTV's "Discovery Journey: Hometown" documentary series; Featured artist in authoritative art journals under the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles such as "Shenzhou Era Art", Jiangxi Daily's "Gan Shang", "Jiangxi Workers' Daily", "National Tourism Business Daily", "Taiwan Hao Bao · Cross-Strait News", "Calligraphy News", and "China Calligraphy & Painting Daily". Local propaganda and cultural departments have organized multiple solo exhibitions of his calligraphy and painting works; his works have been selected or exhibited over seventy times in nationwide competitions hosted by institutions such as the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Chinese Artists Association, and Chinese Poetry Society, often winning awards; he has participated in more than one hundred national exhibitions and competitions hosted by various ministries, provincial-level literary federations, calligraphy associations, and art associations, frequently receiving honors.
In January 2014, he won the top prize at the national exhibition “Focus on Ecology, Beautiful China,” jointly organized by the National Development and Reform Commission and "China Economic Herald," achieving the highest score nationwide in the final evaluation. In October 2014, during the large-scale charity auction exhibition “Chinese Green Journey: Calligraphy and Painting Enters Nanchang,” his four-foot ink painting “Eight Starlings, Bamboo and Rocks” sold at a price several times higher than other competing pieces of similar size, setting a new record for the highest sale price at the event; his calligraphy works also ranked first in auction prices at this exhibition. At the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Youth Calligraphy Exhibitions hosted by the Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Calligraphers Association, he consecutively won three graded awards. During the 2015–2016 cross-year national quad-exhibition jointly organized by the China National Academy of Painting, Xiling Seal Art Society, China Calligraphy & Painting Daily, and other national art institutions, he won an award at every single exhibition. From May to June 2016, his calligraphy and painting works were invited to participate in touring exhibitions organized by the China National Academy of Painting, Xiling Seal Art Society, Zhongguang Calligraphy and Painting Academy, and others in Hong Kong, Macao, Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and other countries and regions. In 2017 and 2018, he was repeatedly invited to participate in the First and Second “National Exhibition of Registered Calligraphy Teachers of the Chinese Calligraphers Association.”He successfully planned major exhibitions such as the “First Kuang Zhong Cup National Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition” and the “‘Chinese Dream · Labor Beauty’ National Invitational Exhibition of Twelve Master Calligraphers.” He has been invited multiple times to serve as judge and chief judge at large-scale poetry, calligraphy, and painting exhibitions at all levels. He has authored poetry collections including “Heartprint Poems,” “Faint Traces,” and “Baoyong Studio Ink Drafts.” In 2014, Beijing’s Xianzhuang Book Bureau published his personal monograph “The Rhythm of Calligraphy: Selected Poetic, Calligraphic, and Painted Works of Liu Langsheng.”
Artistic Characteristics:
Mr. Liu Langsheng inherited family traditions from childhood, deeply passionate about traditional arts such as calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose, particularly excelling in calligraphy and painting while mastering poetry. Initially, his ink paintings focused on Song and Yuan landscape styles and Ming and Qing floral-bird literati freehand brushwork; early in his calligraphy career, he devoted greatest effort to studying the “Two Wangs” and “Four Masters of the Song Dynasty” classical script models; in his middle period, he turned toward Han and Wei stele inscriptions, tomb epitaphs, and bamboo-slip manuscripts. In recent years, he has traced back to origins, diligently copying ancient masterpieces such as Shi You’s “Chusheng Ode,” Lu Ji’s “Pingfu Tie,” Su Jing’s “Yueyi Zhang,” and modern masters like Wang Ju Chang and Wang Shitang’s clerical-cursive scripts. His official script draws inspiration from Han steles such as “Zhang Qian Stele,” “Hao Da Wang Stele,” “Xi Xia Song,” and “Baoxie Dao Stele,” blending them with Chu-Han bamboo-silk character forms and brush techniques, resulting in a uniquely thick, rugged, elegant, and solemn aesthetic. For over two decades, he has persistently practiced and created, developing a distinct personal style integrating poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving.
Chronology of Major Events:
From 2008 to 2012, his poetry, calligraphy, and painting works were selected or exhibited over forty times in national exhibitions hosted or co-hosted by institutions such as the Chinese Artists Association, Chinese Calligraphers Association, China National Academy of Painting, China Calligraphy Research Institute, and Chinese Poetry Society, frequently winning awards;
In 2012, he was selected and received an Outstanding Award in the “National Model Worker Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition” hosted by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and organized by the Chinese Calligraphers Association;
In 2013, he received the Excellent Work Award in the national exhibition “Military-Civilian Fish-Water Affection,” jointly organized by China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs and the National Military-Civilian Love Leadership Group;
In 2014, he won first place (highest award) in the national exhibition “Focus on Ecology, Beautiful China,” jointly organized by the National Development and Reform Commission and China Economic Herald;
From 2008 to 2014, he consecutively won graded awards in the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Jiangxi Provincial Youth Calligraphy Exhibitions, hosted by the Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Calligraphers Association;
In October 2014, during the large-scale charity auction “Chinese Green Mile: Calligraphy and Painting Enters Nanchang,” hosted by the China Charity Federation, his invited calligraphy and ink painting works led auction prices throughout, continuously breaking records and selling at the highest prices of the entire event;
From 2015 to 2016, he won awards at every exhibition of the cross-year national quad-exhibition hosted by the China Calligraphy & Painting Daily and other national art groups;
In October 2014, Xianzhuang Book Bureau published his personal monograph “The Rhythm of Calligraphy—Selected Poetic, Calligraphic, and Painted Works of Liu Langsheng”;
From February 2014 to January 2015, his personal artistic biography was included in the national art professional database of “Baidu Encyclopedia” and the Ministry of Culture’s National Art Professional Talent Database.
Artistic Achievements:
Authored poetry collections: “Heartprint Poems,” “Faint Traces,” and “Baoyong Studio Ink Drafts.” Local cultural and art authorities have held multiple solo and group exhibitions of his works. In addition to the aforementioned selections, exhibitions, and awards, his works have been selected or awarded over ninety times in national competitions hosted by various ministries, provincial-level literary federations, calligraphy associations, and art associations. Numerous works have been published in prestigious art journals such as “Calligraphy News,” “Fine Arts News,” “Calligraphy Guide,” “China Calligraphy & Painting Daily,” “Youth Calligraphy Daily,” and “Calligraphy Magazine,” with special full-page features dedicated to him in “Calligraphy Guide” and “CPPCC Huaxing Times.”
Articles evaluating his art, along with reproductions of his poetry, calligraphy, and painting, have been featured in numerous national print media outlets including CPPCC’s “Huaxing Times,” Jiangxi Daily’s Gan Shang magazine, “Jiangxi Workers’ Daily,” “Tourism Business Daily,” “Contemporary Youth,” “Teacher Magazine,” “Life Weekly,” and “Cultural Metropolitan Daily.” He has been featured as cover personality in three major mainstream media: “Modern Enterprise Culture” (All-China Federation of Trade Unions), “Golden Ideas Business” (key journal of State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television), and “Western Pride” (jointly published by All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and Shaanxi Enterprise Association). His work has received extensive coverage on professional art websites such as “China Artists Network,” “China Calligraphers Network,” “Art Encyclopedia,” “Painting and Calligraphy Encyclopedia,” and on over 200 online news platforms including “People’s Daily Online,” “CCTV.com,” “Xinhua News,” “Baidu Encyclopedia,” “Sina,” “NetEase,” “Toutiao,” “Sohu News,” “Phoenix News,” and “Yidian Zixun.” “Taiwan Hao Bao · Cross-Strait News” has dedicated five special columns to promoting his art.
His works are increasingly attracting broad social attention and are acclaimed by collectors as “the galloping黑马 (dark horse)” and “blue-chip stock” and “soft gold” among salary-class collectors; his fee rates have risen by 30% annually for three consecutive years! Over seventy of his calligraphy and painting works have been collected by public institutions such as the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Civil Affairs’ Military Support Office, Chinese Poetry Society, Beijing’s Ziguang Pavilion Art Museum, and the Taipei Palace Museum. He is a contracted poet and artist with numerous domestic and international galleries and art institutions.
Major Selections, Exhibitions, and Awards
[1] Hosted or Co-hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Chinese Artists Association, China National Academy of Painting, Chinese Poetry Society:
“First China Western Calligraphy Art Festival” National Calligraphy Exhibition, hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Second National Clerical Script Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Prosperous China Cup” National Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, jointly hosted by the Chinese Artists Association and Chinese Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Commemorating Sun Guoting’s Birth Anniversary” National Calligraphy Exhibition, co-hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association and Jiangsu Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“First National Fan-calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association; [Shortlisted]
“National Model Worker Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition,” jointly hosted by the Chinese Artists Association, Chinese Calligraphers Association, and China Employees’ Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Deng Shiru Award National Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association; [Shortlisted]
“Golden Great Wall Cup” National Calligraphy Exhibition, hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“National CPPCC Members Calligraphy Exhibition,” jointly hosted by the Chinese Artists Association and Chinese Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Songyang Cup National Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association and others; [Selected]
“First Ruicheng Yongle Palace National Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association and others; [Selected]
“Paiton Cup National Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition,” hosted by the China National Academy of Painting and China Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Commemorating the 120th Anniversary of Mao Zedong’s Birth” National Poetry, Calligraphy, and Painting Competition, hosted by the Chinese Poetry Society (Outstanding Award).
[2] Hosted or Co-hosted by Ministries, Other Provincial/Municipal Calligraphy and Art Associations, Key Media Institutions:
“Focus on Ecology, Beautiful China” National Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, jointly hosted by the National Development and Reform Commission and China Economic Herald (Joint First Place);
“Military-Civilian Fish-Water Affection” National Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, hosted by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and National Military-Civilian Love Leadership Group (Outstanding Award);
“National Workplace Safety Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition,” hosted by the State Administration of Work Safety (Outstanding Award);
“Mood of Tea and Ink” National Calligraphy Competition, co-hosted by Calligraphy News and Shanghai Calligraphers Association (Third Prize);
“National Handscroll Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Calligraphy Guide Newspaper (Outstanding Award);
“Lanting Elegance: North Lanting National TV Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by China Calligraphy Magazine (Selected);
“Fourth Guanyin Mountain Cup” National Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, co-hosted by Calligraphy News and others (Outstanding Award);
“Qiaoguang Cup” International Famous Calligraphers and Painters Exhibition, hosted by China Calligraphy & Painting Daily; [Outstanding Award]
“Five Sessions of ‘Shangding Cup’ National Exhibition,” co-hosted by the National Cultural Exchange Center and Henan Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“First National Youth Hard-Pen Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by the China Hard-Pen Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Fourth China Youth Calligraphy and Fine Arts Competition,” hosted by Youth Calligraphy Daily (Third Prize);
“Sino-Japanese Parliamentarians and Civil Servants Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by China Calligraphy Research Institute (Outstanding Award);
“National Calligraphers Writing ‘Eight Autumn Poems’” Newspaper Exhibition, hosted by Calligraphy Guide Newspaper (Third Prize);
“National Calligraphy and Painting Talent Selection,” hosted by China Calligraphy & Painting Daily (Silver Award);
“Twelve Zodiac Animals: Year of the Monkey Painting Contest,” hosted by China Calligraphy & Painting Daily (Outstanding Award);
“30th Anniversary of China Calligraphy & Painting Daily” National Invitational Exhibition of Master Calligraphers and Painters (Outstanding Award).
[3] Hosted or Co-hosted by Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation, Provincial Artists Association, Provincial Calligraphers Association:
“Realizing Dreams in Soviet Areas” Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, hosted by Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Provincial Artists Association (Outstanding Award);
“Third Jiangxi Provincial Calligraphy Copying Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Sixth Jiangxi Provincial Youth Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Third Prize);
“Seventh Jiangxi Provincial Youth Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Second Prize);
“Eighth Jiangxi Provincial Youth Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Second Prize);
“Fourth Jiangxi Provincial Calligraphy Copying Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Calligraphers Association (Second Prize);
“Sixth Jiangxi Provincial Calligraphy Copying Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Calligraphers Association (Second Prize);
“National Linchuan Penmanship – Civil Defense Cup” Calligraphy Exhibition, hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“National Yue-Gan Expressway Cup” Calligraphy Exhibition, hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese Soviet Republic” National Calligraphy Exhibition, hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Second Jiangxi Provincial Couplet Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Third Jiangxi Provincial Couplet Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Seventh Jiangxi Provincial Calligraphy and Sealing Art Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Eighth Jiangxi Provincial Calligraphy and Sealing Art Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Third ‘Lin Chuan Pen’ National Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Yichun City Civil Servants Talent Competition,” hosted by Yichun Publicity Department and City Literary Federation; both calligraphy and ink painting won graded awards.
Social Evaluation
Journalist Interview ‖ Chief Reporter Wang Xiaolin of Jiangxi Daily’s “Gan Shang”
Wang Xiaolin’s Notes — Impressions of Liu Langsheng’s Art
The Wind and Clouds Stirred Beneath His Brush
— Impressions of Liu Langsheng’s Art
Wang Xiaolin
(Chief Reporter, Jiangxi Daily’s “Gan Shang”) Suddenly recalling the verse, “A heart filled with poetry and books naturally exudes grace,” one inevitably thinks of Mr. Liu Langsheng, who embodies poetry, calligraphy, and painting in one person. This artist, whose demeanor is gentle and scholarly, whose temperament is wise and open-minded, whose speech is witty and brilliant, hails from Jing’an County in Jiangxi—a red land situated south of the Yangtze River and beside the Gan River. He regards his exploration and practice of art as a process of life exchange, refining, elevating, and enriching the essence of life through this journey. With his brush, he faithfully walks his artistic and life path, embracing an artistic existence characterized by calmness and tranquility—"the wind and clouds stirred beneath his brush."
As a journalist with a literary sensibility, reading Liu Langsheng naturally begins with his poetry. Thus I encountered lines such as: “I dare to laugh at Chen Wang’s seven steps as slow; my poems come forth in seconds,” “A thousand layers of ink dots form a painting; I believe my life spans five hundred years,” “Gazing upward, I read the moon across distant Milky Way; gazing seaward, I watch waves shrouded in misty heavens,” “Imbuing charm into clerical-cursive to transmit ancient elegance; wielding my brush wildly to write my true heart.” His poetic compositions employ classical allusions and metaphorical techniques, meticulously documenting his profound inner emotions. A myriad of sentiments bloom from his brush tip—what lofty and majestic realms these evoke! I feel humbled before them!
“Let my brush harmonize with Wu men tradition; I don’t paint for wine money.” Poetry writing stems from Langsheng’s aspiration to inherit traditional Chinese culture and continue his scholarly family legacy. Born into a scholarly household, at fourteen he memorized “Zeng Guang Xian Wen,” “You Xue Qiong Lin,” and “Ten Monastic Texts”; between fifteen and seventeen he thoroughly read the Four Books and Five Classics, the Complete Library in Four Branches, the Twenty-Four Histories, the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government, the Four Great Classical Novels, and annotated collections of Tang and Song poetry; at eighteen he copied the entire “Jieziyuan Painting Manual”; from twenty to thirty, he spent ten years meticulously copying the canonical scripts of the “Two Wangs” and the “Four Masters of the Song Dynasty.” His poems broadly fall into four categories: aspirations, object-eulogy, reflection, and gift-poetry—mostly spontaneous creations, even extemporaneous verses—yet rigorously adhering to metrical rules and infused with profound philosophical insight. Most are personally written and gifted to friends, where poetry and calligraphy merge seamlessly, allowing Langsheng’s talents to mature progressively.
Calligraphy serves as one of Langsheng’s most vital means of disseminating poetry—exquisite handwriting is a person’s face. Langsheng knows that giving someone a thousand gold coins is not as valuable as gifting them a fine piece of calligraphy. Thus, he has devoted his entire life to researching and practicing calligraphy. He studies diverse schools, especially excelling in Han clerical script and clerical-cursive. His lines, thick yet refined, elegant yet tranquil, radiate an artistic tension of black-and-white contrast that increasingly wins admiration and praise from audiences, art circles, and collectors alike.
Early in his study of calligraphy, he pursued masters of Ming and Qing dynasties; later, he devoted greatest effort to studying “Su” and “Mi” from the Song Four Masters. In recent years, he has immersed himself in studying classic clerical-cursive works. Clerical-cursive is a minority script, less familiar, popular, or accessible than running or cursive scripts, nor as formally beautiful or legible as regular or clerical scripts. Yet it represents a revolutionary script form, a precious cultural heritage left by our ancestors. Langsheng believes learning clerical-cursive demands reverence, pursuit, and noble sentiment to confidently unleash one’s brush. He cherishes clerical-cursive art for its soul-stirring power, driven by deep respect for ancient sages.
Langsheng has persistently explored the three fundamental elements of clerical-cursive: brush technique, structure, and composition. He tirelessly practices the precise strokes and lines found in historical clerical-cursive masterpieces, studying and emulating their
In January 2014, he won the top prize at the national exhibition “Focus on Ecology, Beautiful China,” jointly organized by the National Development and Reform Commission and "China Economic Herald," achieving the highest score nationwide in the final evaluation. In October 2014, during the large-scale charity auction exhibition “Chinese Green Journey: Calligraphy and Painting Enters Nanchang,” his four-foot ink painting “Eight Starlings, Bamboo and Rocks” sold at a price several times higher than other competing pieces of similar size, setting a new record for the highest sale price at the event; his calligraphy works also ranked first in auction prices at this exhibition. At the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Youth Calligraphy Exhibitions hosted by the Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Calligraphers Association, he consecutively won three graded awards. During the 2015–2016 cross-year national quad-exhibition jointly organized by the China National Academy of Painting, Xiling Seal Art Society, China Calligraphy & Painting Daily, and other national art institutions, he won an award at every single exhibition. From May to June 2016, his calligraphy and painting works were invited to participate in touring exhibitions organized by the China National Academy of Painting, Xiling Seal Art Society, Zhongguang Calligraphy and Painting Academy, and others in Hong Kong, Macao, Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and other countries and regions. In 2017 and 2018, he was repeatedly invited to participate in the First and Second “National Exhibition of Registered Calligraphy Teachers of the Chinese Calligraphers Association.”He successfully planned major exhibitions such as the “First Kuang Zhong Cup National Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition” and the “‘Chinese Dream · Labor Beauty’ National Invitational Exhibition of Twelve Master Calligraphers.” He has been invited multiple times to serve as judge and chief judge at large-scale poetry, calligraphy, and painting exhibitions at all levels. He has authored poetry collections including “Heartprint Poems,” “Faint Traces,” and “Baoyong Studio Ink Drafts.” In 2014, Beijing’s Xianzhuang Book Bureau published his personal monograph “The Rhythm of Calligraphy: Selected Poetic, Calligraphic, and Painted Works of Liu Langsheng.”
Artistic Characteristics:Mr. Liu Langsheng inherited family traditions from childhood, deeply passionate about traditional arts such as calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose, particularly excelling in calligraphy and painting while mastering poetry. Initially, his ink paintings focused on Song and Yuan landscape styles and Ming and Qing floral-bird literati freehand brushwork; early in his calligraphy career, he devoted greatest effort to studying the “Two Wangs” and “Four Masters of the Song Dynasty” classical script models; in his middle period, he turned toward Han and Wei stele inscriptions, tomb epitaphs, and bamboo-slip manuscripts. In recent years, he has traced back to origins, diligently copying ancient masterpieces such as Shi You’s “Chusheng Ode,” Lu Ji’s “Pingfu Tie,” Su Jing’s “Yueyi Zhang,” and modern masters like Wang Ju Chang and Wang Shitang’s clerical-cursive scripts. His official script draws inspiration from Han steles such as “Zhang Qian Stele,” “Hao Da Wang Stele,” “Xi Xia Song,” and “Baoxie Dao Stele,” blending them with Chu-Han bamboo-silk character forms and brush techniques, resulting in a uniquely thick, rugged, elegant, and solemn aesthetic. For over two decades, he has persistently practiced and created, developing a distinct personal style integrating poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving.
Chronology of Major Events:
From 2008 to 2012, his poetry, calligraphy, and painting works were selected or exhibited over forty times in national exhibitions hosted or co-hosted by institutions such as the Chinese Artists Association, Chinese Calligraphers Association, China National Academy of Painting, China Calligraphy Research Institute, and Chinese Poetry Society, frequently winning awards;
In 2012, he was selected and received an Outstanding Award in the “National Model Worker Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition” hosted by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and organized by the Chinese Calligraphers Association;
In 2013, he received the Excellent Work Award in the national exhibition “Military-Civilian Fish-Water Affection,” jointly organized by China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs and the National Military-Civilian Love Leadership Group;
In 2014, he won first place (highest award) in the national exhibition “Focus on Ecology, Beautiful China,” jointly organized by the National Development and Reform Commission and China Economic Herald;
From 2008 to 2014, he consecutively won graded awards in the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Jiangxi Provincial Youth Calligraphy Exhibitions, hosted by the Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Calligraphers Association;
In October 2014, during the large-scale charity auction “Chinese Green Mile: Calligraphy and Painting Enters Nanchang,” hosted by the China Charity Federation, his invited calligraphy and ink painting works led auction prices throughout, continuously breaking records and selling at the highest prices of the entire event;
From 2015 to 2016, he won awards at every exhibition of the cross-year national quad-exhibition hosted by the China Calligraphy & Painting Daily and other national art groups;
In October 2014, Xianzhuang Book Bureau published his personal monograph “The Rhythm of Calligraphy—Selected Poetic, Calligraphic, and Painted Works of Liu Langsheng”;
From February 2014 to January 2015, his personal artistic biography was included in the national art professional database of “Baidu Encyclopedia” and the Ministry of Culture’s National Art Professional Talent Database.
Artistic Achievements:
Authored poetry collections: “Heartprint Poems,” “Faint Traces,” and “Baoyong Studio Ink Drafts.” Local cultural and art authorities have held multiple solo and group exhibitions of his works. In addition to the aforementioned selections, exhibitions, and awards, his works have been selected or awarded over ninety times in national competitions hosted by various ministries, provincial-level literary federations, calligraphy associations, and art associations. Numerous works have been published in prestigious art journals such as “Calligraphy News,” “Fine Arts News,” “Calligraphy Guide,” “China Calligraphy & Painting Daily,” “Youth Calligraphy Daily,” and “Calligraphy Magazine,” with special full-page features dedicated to him in “Calligraphy Guide” and “CPPCC Huaxing Times.”Articles evaluating his art, along with reproductions of his poetry, calligraphy, and painting, have been featured in numerous national print media outlets including CPPCC’s “Huaxing Times,” Jiangxi Daily’s Gan Shang magazine, “Jiangxi Workers’ Daily,” “Tourism Business Daily,” “Contemporary Youth,” “Teacher Magazine,” “Life Weekly,” and “Cultural Metropolitan Daily.” He has been featured as cover personality in three major mainstream media: “Modern Enterprise Culture” (All-China Federation of Trade Unions), “Golden Ideas Business” (key journal of State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television), and “Western Pride” (jointly published by All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and Shaanxi Enterprise Association). His work has received extensive coverage on professional art websites such as “China Artists Network,” “China Calligraphers Network,” “Art Encyclopedia,” “Painting and Calligraphy Encyclopedia,” and on over 200 online news platforms including “People’s Daily Online,” “CCTV.com,” “Xinhua News,” “Baidu Encyclopedia,” “Sina,” “NetEase,” “Toutiao,” “Sohu News,” “Phoenix News,” and “Yidian Zixun.” “Taiwan Hao Bao · Cross-Strait News” has dedicated five special columns to promoting his art.
His works are increasingly attracting broad social attention and are acclaimed by collectors as “the galloping黑马 (dark horse)” and “blue-chip stock” and “soft gold” among salary-class collectors; his fee rates have risen by 30% annually for three consecutive years! Over seventy of his calligraphy and painting works have been collected by public institutions such as the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Civil Affairs’ Military Support Office, Chinese Poetry Society, Beijing’s Ziguang Pavilion Art Museum, and the Taipei Palace Museum. He is a contracted poet and artist with numerous domestic and international galleries and art institutions.
Major Selections, Exhibitions, and Awards[1] Hosted or Co-hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Chinese Artists Association, China National Academy of Painting, Chinese Poetry Society:
“First China Western Calligraphy Art Festival” National Calligraphy Exhibition, hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Second National Clerical Script Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Prosperous China Cup” National Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, jointly hosted by the Chinese Artists Association and Chinese Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Commemorating Sun Guoting’s Birth Anniversary” National Calligraphy Exhibition, co-hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association and Jiangsu Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“First National Fan-calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association; [Shortlisted]
“National Model Worker Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition,” jointly hosted by the Chinese Artists Association, Chinese Calligraphers Association, and China Employees’ Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Deng Shiru Award National Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association; [Shortlisted]
“Golden Great Wall Cup” National Calligraphy Exhibition, hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“National CPPCC Members Calligraphy Exhibition,” jointly hosted by the Chinese Artists Association and Chinese Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Songyang Cup National Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association and others; [Selected]
“First Ruicheng Yongle Palace National Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by the Chinese Calligraphers Association and others; [Selected]
“Paiton Cup National Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition,” hosted by the China National Academy of Painting and China Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Commemorating the 120th Anniversary of Mao Zedong’s Birth” National Poetry, Calligraphy, and Painting Competition, hosted by the Chinese Poetry Society (Outstanding Award).
[2] Hosted or Co-hosted by Ministries, Other Provincial/Municipal Calligraphy and Art Associations, Key Media Institutions:“Focus on Ecology, Beautiful China” National Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, jointly hosted by the National Development and Reform Commission and China Economic Herald (Joint First Place);
“Military-Civilian Fish-Water Affection” National Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, hosted by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and National Military-Civilian Love Leadership Group (Outstanding Award);
“National Workplace Safety Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition,” hosted by the State Administration of Work Safety (Outstanding Award);
“Mood of Tea and Ink” National Calligraphy Competition, co-hosted by Calligraphy News and Shanghai Calligraphers Association (Third Prize);
“National Handscroll Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Calligraphy Guide Newspaper (Outstanding Award);
“Lanting Elegance: North Lanting National TV Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by China Calligraphy Magazine (Selected);
“Fourth Guanyin Mountain Cup” National Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, co-hosted by Calligraphy News and others (Outstanding Award);
“Qiaoguang Cup” International Famous Calligraphers and Painters Exhibition, hosted by China Calligraphy & Painting Daily; [Outstanding Award]
“Five Sessions of ‘Shangding Cup’ National Exhibition,” co-hosted by the National Cultural Exchange Center and Henan Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“First National Youth Hard-Pen Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by the China Hard-Pen Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Fourth China Youth Calligraphy and Fine Arts Competition,” hosted by Youth Calligraphy Daily (Third Prize);
“Sino-Japanese Parliamentarians and Civil Servants Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by China Calligraphy Research Institute (Outstanding Award);
“National Calligraphers Writing ‘Eight Autumn Poems’” Newspaper Exhibition, hosted by Calligraphy Guide Newspaper (Third Prize);
“National Calligraphy and Painting Talent Selection,” hosted by China Calligraphy & Painting Daily (Silver Award);
“Twelve Zodiac Animals: Year of the Monkey Painting Contest,” hosted by China Calligraphy & Painting Daily (Outstanding Award);
“30th Anniversary of China Calligraphy & Painting Daily” National Invitational Exhibition of Master Calligraphers and Painters (Outstanding Award).
[3] Hosted or Co-hosted by Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation, Provincial Artists Association, Provincial Calligraphers Association:“Realizing Dreams in Soviet Areas” Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, hosted by Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Provincial Artists Association (Outstanding Award);
“Third Jiangxi Provincial Calligraphy Copying Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Sixth Jiangxi Provincial Youth Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Third Prize);
“Seventh Jiangxi Provincial Youth Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Second Prize);
“Eighth Jiangxi Provincial Youth Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Provincial Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Second Prize);
“Fourth Jiangxi Provincial Calligraphy Copying Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Calligraphers Association (Second Prize);
“Sixth Jiangxi Provincial Calligraphy Copying Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Calligraphers Association (Second Prize);
“National Linchuan Penmanship – Civil Defense Cup” Calligraphy Exhibition, hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“National Yue-Gan Expressway Cup” Calligraphy Exhibition, hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese Soviet Republic” National Calligraphy Exhibition, hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Second Jiangxi Provincial Couplet Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Third Jiangxi Provincial Couplet Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Seventh Jiangxi Provincial Calligraphy and Sealing Art Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association; [Selected]
“Eighth Jiangxi Provincial Calligraphy and Sealing Art Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Third ‘Lin Chuan Pen’ National Calligraphy Exhibition,” hosted by Jiangxi Literary Federation and Provincial Calligraphers Association (Outstanding Award);
“Yichun City Civil Servants Talent Competition,” hosted by Yichun Publicity Department and City Literary Federation; both calligraphy and ink painting won graded awards.
Social Evaluation
Journalist Interview ‖ Chief Reporter Wang Xiaolin of Jiangxi Daily’s “Gan Shang”Wang Xiaolin’s Notes — Impressions of Liu Langsheng’s Art
The Wind and Clouds Stirred Beneath His Brush
— Impressions of Liu Langsheng’s Art
Wang Xiaolin
(Chief Reporter, Jiangxi Daily’s “Gan Shang”) Suddenly recalling the verse, “A heart filled with poetry and books naturally exudes grace,” one inevitably thinks of Mr. Liu Langsheng, who embodies poetry, calligraphy, and painting in one person. This artist, whose demeanor is gentle and scholarly, whose temperament is wise and open-minded, whose speech is witty and brilliant, hails from Jing’an County in Jiangxi—a red land situated south of the Yangtze River and beside the Gan River. He regards his exploration and practice of art as a process of life exchange, refining, elevating, and enriching the essence of life through this journey. With his brush, he faithfully walks his artistic and life path, embracing an artistic existence characterized by calmness and tranquility—"the wind and clouds stirred beneath his brush."
As a journalist with a literary sensibility, reading Liu Langsheng naturally begins with his poetry. Thus I encountered lines such as: “I dare to laugh at Chen Wang’s seven steps as slow; my poems come forth in seconds,” “A thousand layers of ink dots form a painting; I believe my life spans five hundred years,” “Gazing upward, I read the moon across distant Milky Way; gazing seaward, I watch waves shrouded in misty heavens,” “Imbuing charm into clerical-cursive to transmit ancient elegance; wielding my brush wildly to write my true heart.” His poetic compositions employ classical allusions and metaphorical techniques, meticulously documenting his profound inner emotions. A myriad of sentiments bloom from his brush tip—what lofty and majestic realms these evoke! I feel humbled before them!
“Let my brush harmonize with Wu men tradition; I don’t paint for wine money.” Poetry writing stems from Langsheng’s aspiration to inherit traditional Chinese culture and continue his scholarly family legacy. Born into a scholarly household, at fourteen he memorized “Zeng Guang Xian Wen,” “You Xue Qiong Lin,” and “Ten Monastic Texts”; between fifteen and seventeen he thoroughly read the Four Books and Five Classics, the Complete Library in Four Branches, the Twenty-Four Histories, the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government, the Four Great Classical Novels, and annotated collections of Tang and Song poetry; at eighteen he copied the entire “Jieziyuan Painting Manual”; from twenty to thirty, he spent ten years meticulously copying the canonical scripts of the “Two Wangs” and the “Four Masters of the Song Dynasty.” His poems broadly fall into four categories: aspirations, object-eulogy, reflection, and gift-poetry—mostly spontaneous creations, even extemporaneous verses—yet rigorously adhering to metrical rules and infused with profound philosophical insight. Most are personally written and gifted to friends, where poetry and calligraphy merge seamlessly, allowing Langsheng’s talents to mature progressively.
Calligraphy serves as one of Langsheng’s most vital means of disseminating poetry—exquisite handwriting is a person’s face. Langsheng knows that giving someone a thousand gold coins is not as valuable as gifting them a fine piece of calligraphy. Thus, he has devoted his entire life to researching and practicing calligraphy. He studies diverse schools, especially excelling in Han clerical script and clerical-cursive. His lines, thick yet refined, elegant yet tranquil, radiate an artistic tension of black-and-white contrast that increasingly wins admiration and praise from audiences, art circles, and collectors alike.Early in his study of calligraphy, he pursued masters of Ming and Qing dynasties; later, he devoted greatest effort to studying “Su” and “Mi” from the Song Four Masters. In recent years, he has immersed himself in studying classic clerical-cursive works. Clerical-cursive is a minority script, less familiar, popular, or accessible than running or cursive scripts, nor as formally beautiful or legible as regular or clerical scripts. Yet it represents a revolutionary script form, a precious cultural heritage left by our ancestors. Langsheng believes learning clerical-cursive demands reverence, pursuit, and noble sentiment to confidently unleash one’s brush. He cherishes clerical-cursive art for its soul-stirring power, driven by deep respect for ancient sages.
Langsheng has persistently explored the three fundamental elements of clerical-cursive: brush technique, structure, and composition. He tirelessly practices the precise strokes and lines found in historical clerical-cursive masterpieces, studying and emulating their
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Liu Langsheng