family.
For generations, my family home has been more than a residence — it has been a living atelier where shelves of ancient books, silk threads, and carving tools shared the same quiet light. One guest who spoke that creative language fluently was Qi Baishi (1864 – 1957). Long before he became a national treasure of Chinese painting, the young Qi apprenticed as a woodcarver in my ancestors’ household. Over more than ten years, family ledgers record him chiseling window lattices, table legs, and shrine panels. Yet his true fascination lay upstairs, where lacquered cabinets guarded classics like the Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden. With my forebears’ blessing, he pored over those pages, tracing plum blossoms and bamboo shoots until their rhythms became his own. Many art historians credit this period — and our library’s masterpieces — as formative to Qi Baishi’s unmistakable brushwork.
inspiration.
My great-grandfather, Tan Yankai (courtesy name Zuan), was a deeply respected calligrapher and artist. His brushwork resonates with a quiet intensity, rooted firmly in the disciplined grace of the Yan style yet distinguished by his own expressive voice. Drawing profound inspiration from the celebrated Tang master Yan Zhenqing, he infused each stroke with an unmistakable rhythm, harmonizing strength and fluidity, precision and spontaneity. His characters breathe on paper, each line a careful negotiation between power and elegance. Among his many works, the iconic inscription adorning the pavilion at Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum stands as a timeless reminder of his artistry—a calligrapher whose hand both honored tradition and elevated it, continually inspiring my own pursuit of beauty and balance through art.
precepts.
My family has always valued scholarship deeply, yet without the pride or pretension that often accompany intellectual achievements. We have consciously avoided indulgence and extravagance, choosing instead simplicity and sincerity. We appreciate culture without condescension, guided by a genuine aspiration to benefit society rather than succumb to the pitfalls of wealth and status. Our ambition to make meaningful contributions is balanced by humility and gentleness, steering clear of rigid or aggressive methods.
