Ong Schan Tchow

Ong Schan Tchow
alias Yung Len Kwui
翁占秋 / 翁联桂

From the Annals of Longyan (edn. 1997)
Born September 19, 1900
Longyan, Fujian
Qing dynasty China
Died December 20, 1945 (aged 45)
Ipoh,
Malaysia Malaysia
Nationality Chinese
Education École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, faculté de droit of the University of Paris
Known for Painting, Chinese calligraphy
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Ong.

Ong Schan Tchow (Chinese: 翁占秋; pinyin: Wēng Zhàn Qiū) (also known as Yung Chan Tchow, Ong Chan Chiew or Ang Chan Chiew in the Hokkien dialect) alias Yung Len Kwui (Chinese: 翁联桂; pinyin: Wēng Lián Guì) (also known as Ong Lien Kuei) (September 19, 1900 – December 20, 1945) was born in Longyan, a prefecture of Fujian Province, China. He was well known for Chinese Ink wash painting and colour paintings of flowers (Chrysanthemums in particular), landscapes (Shan shui), animals, people, still life and Calligraphy. He was regarded as one of the first few batches of Chinese scholars and artists to study in Paris and one of the few artists who integrated both traditional Chinese and Western art techniques. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he became renowned as a patriot artist when he exhibited extensively in China, Hong Kong and later in South East Asia to raise funds solely for the war relief effort and for the countless Chinese civilian victims in China, Malaysia and Singapore.

Biography

Ong learned traditional Chinese painting and Chinese Calligraphy at a young age and also excelled academically in other disciplines.

In 1919, at age 19 he went to Paris after winning a Chinese Government Scholarship. He studied at École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, the National School of Fine Arts of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he learned to combine Western art techniques and perspectives with traditional Chinese painting techniques. In addition he obtained a Master of Arts in Law, French and Political Science from the University of Paris where he also enrolled for his Doctorate.

Upon his return to China in 1927, his fame as an artist grew as he was recognized as one of a small group of Chinese artists at that time to be trained in Paris and who combined art techniques of both East and West.

He entered Government service pursuant to conditions of the scholarship and held various positions including Secretary of the Executive Yuan; lecturer at the National Central University (now Nanjing University), and editor of Nanking Morning Press.

It was during his time in Nanjing that Ong produced one of his monumental works – a compilation of paintings of Chrysanthemums with accompanying poems and commentary from well known persons. This compilation was succinctly termed the “Book of Chrysanthemums” (see section below). These were paintings of the vast variety of Chrysanthemums planted at the newly completed mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the “Father of Modern China”, at Nanjing, the former Capital of China.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Ong exhibited his works extensively where all the proceeds were given to the war relief effort. The war destroyed many of the paintings but he managed to salvage many important works. The advancing Japanese army forced him to move his exhibitions to Hong Kong and later to Singapore[1][2][3] and Malaysia.

All the exhibitions were solely for the War Relief Fund in aid of the civilian victims in China, Malaysia and Singapore . In one of his exhibitions in Ipoh, Malaysia, His Royal Highness the Sultan of Perak was presented with one of his paintings. Some of his works were also donated to some temples in Perak including the famous Sam Poh Tong (Chinese: 三宝洞; pinyin: Sān bǎo dòng)[4][5] and Nam Thean Tong (Chinese: 南天洞; pinyin: Nántiān dòng)[6][7] cave temples.

Ong was creative in his combination of techniques of East and West from a realism and attention to detail to an expressive free style.

Ong died in 1945 while tirelessly exhibiting his works in Ipoh, Malaysia. His death at the relatively young age of 45 pre-maturely curtailed his artistic influence and patriotic fundraising efforts. In the Annals of Longyan, Ong is considered one of her well known sons.

Book of Chrysanthemums (Chinese: 百菊图)

A preface by Cai Yuanpei to the “Book of Chrysanthemums” painted by Ong Schan Tchow
A page from the “Book of Chrysanthemums” with accompanying poem by Lin Sen, President of the Republic of China
His Royal Highness the Sultan of Perak was presented with this “Peonies” painted by Ong Schan Tchow

The Chrysanthemum has special significance in Chinese culture as it was first cultivated in China and is part of the Four Gentlemen in Chinese art.

The “Book of Chrysanthemums” (Chinese: 百菊图) is one of Ong’s monumental works. The Book contains paintings of chrysanthemums grown inside Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and where each painting is accompanied side by side by a poem, commentary or calligraphy written by Ong’s friends and persons of note in China. Some of these famous historical personages who contributed to the Book include:

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Singapore exhibition 1939
  2. ↑ Straits Times Singapore
  3. ↑ Singapore’s China Relief Fund exhibition extended
  4. ↑ Sam Poh Tong
  5. ↑ Landmarks of Ipoh
  6. ↑ Nam Thean Tong Cave Temple
  7. ↑ Nam Thean Tong and other temples in Postcards
  8. ↑ Ye Gong Chuo in Chinese Wikipedia
  9. ↑ Ju Zheng in Chinese Wikipedia
  10. ↑ Gao Jianfu in Chinese Wikipedia
  11. ↑ Gao Jianfu
  12. ↑ Chen Shu-ren in Chinese Wikipedia
  13. ↑ Chen Shu-ren
  14. ↑ Jing Heng-yi in Chinese Wikipedia
  15. ↑ Tu Si Zong in Chinese Wikipedia
  16. ↑ Shao Yuan Chong in Chinese Wikipedia
  17. ↑ Listed on National Chi Nan University in Chinese Wikipedia
  18. ↑ Cheng Qian in Chinese Wikipedia
  19. ↑ Bo Wen-wei in Chinese Wikipedia

External links