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16 Jul 2025

CUHK Art Museum launches the new book Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung
Addressing a research gap with the first dedicated monograph that illuminates the master’s artistic spirit

16 Jul 2025

The officiating guests at the launch ceremony of Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung (from left: Professor Josh Yiu, Director, Art Museum, CUHK and Professor Hector Chan, Associate Vice-President (Education) and Head of New Asia College, CUHK)

The officiating guests at the launch ceremony of Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung and the seminar guests (from left: Dr Phil Chan, Associate Curator (Painting and Calligraphy), Art Museum, CUHK; Mr Tsui Chi-yu, representative of the Alumni Association of the Fine Arts Department, CUHK; Professor Josh Yiu, Director, Art Museum, CUHK; Professor Hector Chan, Associate Vice-President (Education) and Head of New Asia College, CUHK; Professor Harold Mok, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Fine Arts, CUHK; and Dr Raymond Tang, Deputy Director, Art Museum, CUHK)

Book cover of Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung

Yu Youren’s Poem in Running Script by Ting Yin-yung
Dated 1961
Vertical scroll, ink on paper
167 x 38 cm
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
Acc. no.: 2009.0241
Art Museum Purchase

Bada Shanren’s Five-character Couplet in Running Script by Ting Yin-yung
Dated c. early 1970s
A pair of hanging scrolls, ink on paper
Each 117.3 x 30.6 cm
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
Acc. no.: 1997.0056
Gift of Sanbuyi Tang

Poems of Siwen Tang in Cursive Script by Ting Yin-yung
Dated 1972
Horizontal scroll, ink on paper
34.7 x 274.5 cm
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
Acc. no.: 1997.0057
Gift of Sanbuyi Tang

Poems in Running-Cursive Script by Ting Yin-yung
Dated 1975
Horizontal scroll, ink on paper
38.3 x 414 cm
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
Acc. no.: 2008.0479
Gift of the Yip Family

One-stroke Cat by Ting Yin-yung
Dated c. 1974-76
Vertical scroll, ink on paper
69.2 x 34.3 cm
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
Acc. no.: 2018.0079
Gift of Ms Liu Siu-jane and Mr Ma Kwai-shun

Seven-character Quatrain by Mi Fu in Cursive Script by Ting Yin-yung
Dated c. 1974-76
Hanging scroll, ink on paper
138.7 x 34.5 cm
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
Acc. no.: 2018.0108
Gift of Mr Tsui Chi-yu

The Art Museum of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has jointly published the new book Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung with CUHK’s New Asia College, the Department of Fine Arts and the Alumni Association of the Fine Arts Department. This is the first dedicated monograph on master Ting Yin-yung’s calligraphy, featuring his calligraphic works, poetry and inscriptions on paintings, and offers a comprehensive, in-depth understanding of his artistic spirit, filling the gap in relevant studies. Today (16 July), the book launch and a seminar took place at CUHK Art Museum. Representatives of the publishing units and key members of the editorial board shared the origins, behind-the-scenes stories and highlights of the book.

Officiating at the book launch ceremony were Professor Hector Chan Sun-on, Associate Vice-President (Education) and Head of New Asia College; and Professor Josh Yiu Chun-chong, Director, Art Museum, CUHK. Professor Chan said: “The publication of Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung carries multiple layers of significance. Firstly, this is the first dedicated book to examine Ting’s calligraphy and inscriptions in detail. The book also features numerous precious paintings and calligraphy pieces by Ting, showcasing his exceptional artistic mastery and distinctive style. Furthermore, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of New Asia College and the inauguration of the Art Museum’s Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion, this special publishing project brought together the Department of Fine Arts and the Alumni Association of the Fine Arts Department once again, in collaboration with the Art Museum. It also united many current and retired CUHK scholars and alumni in a meaningful joint effort.”

The seminar was hosted by Dr Raymond Tang Man-leung, Deputy Director, Art Museum, CUHK, with guest speakers including Professor Harold Mok Kar-leung, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Fine Arts; Mr Tsui Chi-yu, representative of the Alumni Association of the Fine Arts Department; and Dr Phil Chan Kwun-nam, Associate Curator (Painting and Calligraphy), Art Museum, CUHK. They shared the origins and significance of the book and the latest research findings that it features, as well as interesting anecdotes from their experiences learning from Ting. The speakers said they hoped that the book would reach a wide audience, encouraging greater appreciation of Ting’s calligraphy and art, and ultimately fostering public awareness and passion for traditional Chinese art and culture.

Ting Yin-yung (1902-78) was one of the most influential masters in the history of 20th-century Chinese art. In addition to his remarkable artistic accomplishments, he was a pioneer of tertiary art education in Hong Kong. Ting was one of the founding members of CUHK’s Department of Fine Arts and has a longstanding connection with the University. The book focuses on Ting’s calligraphic works as its primary subject of study and appreciation, while including his poetry and inscriptions on paintings. It offers a comprehensive, in-depth understanding of his artistic spirit, including four articles and more than 100 entries written by Ting’s students and other scholars, most of whom are current or retired CUHK scholars and alumni. The first section explores Ting’s calligraphy, with the works arranged in chronological order. The second and third sections focus on Ting’s poetry and inscriptions on paintings, which are categorised into six thematic groups chronologically.

Ting was renowned for his oil paintings, ink works and seal carvings. His artistic life provides valuable insights into the development of modern Chinese art, especially that of Hong Kong. This significance has become increasingly evident more than 40 years after his passing, with a growing number of international studies, exhibitions and publications dedicated to his work. However, there was previously no monograph focusing exclusively on his calligraphy. Although he did not consider himself a calligrapher, the artform plays a crucial role in his work. Through insight and diligent self-study, Ting successfully integrated its influence, ultimately establishing a distinctive personal style. This book integrates various views and addresses gaps in research, making it an essential entry point for the study of Ting’s art. Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung is jointly published by CUHK’s New Asia College, the Department of Fine Arts, the Art Museum and the Alumni Association of the Fine Arts Department, and is sponsored by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. The book will be on sale at the Museum’s bookshop and during the Hong Kong Book Fair.

Please download exhibition photos from bit.ly/44FU59L.



The officiating guests at the launch ceremony of Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung (from left: Professor Josh Yiu, Director, Art Museum, CUHK and Professor Hector Chan, Associate Vice-President (Education) and Head of New Asia College, CUHK)

The officiating guests at the launch ceremony of Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung (from left: Professor Josh Yiu, Director, Art Museum, CUHK and Professor Hector Chan, Associate Vice-President (Education) and Head of New Asia College, CUHK)

 

The officiating guests at the launch ceremony of Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung and the seminar guests (from left: Dr Phil Chan, Associate Curator (Painting and Calligraphy), Art Museum, CUHK; Mr Tsui Chi-yu, representative of the Alumni Association of the Fine Arts Department, CUHK; Professor Josh Yiu, Director, Art Museum, CUHK; Professor Hector Chan, Associate Vice-President (Education) and Head of New Asia College, CUHK; Professor Harold Mok, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Fine Arts, CUHK; and Dr Raymond Tang, Deputy Director, Art Museum, CUHK)

The officiating guests at the launch ceremony of Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung and the seminar guests (from left: Dr Phil Chan, Associate Curator (Painting and Calligraphy), Art Museum, CUHK; Mr Tsui Chi-yu, representative of the Alumni Association of the Fine Arts Department, CUHK; Professor Josh Yiu, Director, Art Museum, CUHK; Professor Hector Chan, Associate Vice-President (Education) and Head of New Asia College, CUHK; Professor Harold Mok, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Fine Arts, CUHK; and Dr Raymond Tang, Deputy Director, Art Museum, CUHK)

 

Book cover of Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung

Book cover of Calligraphy by Ting Yin-yung

 

Yu Youren’s Poem in Running Script by Ting Yin-yung<br />
Dated 1961<br />
Vertical scroll, ink on paper<br />
167 x 38 cm<br />
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK<br />
Acc. no.: 2009.0241<br />
Art Museum Purchase

Yu Youren’s Poem in Running Script by Ting Yin-yung
Dated 1961
Vertical scroll, ink on paper
167 x 38 cm
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
Acc. no.: 2009.0241
Art Museum Purchase

 

Bada Shanren’s Five-character Couplet in Running Script by Ting Yin-yung<br />
Dated c. early 1970s<br />
A pair of hanging scrolls, ink on paper<br />
Each 117.3 x 30.6 cm<br />
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK<br />
Acc. no.: 1997.0056<br />
Gift of Sanbuyi Tang

Bada Shanren’s Five-character Couplet in Running Script by Ting Yin-yung
Dated c. early 1970s
A pair of hanging scrolls, ink on paper
Each 117.3 x 30.6 cm
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
Acc. no.: 1997.0056
Gift of Sanbuyi Tang

 

Poems of Siwen Tang in Cursive Script by Ting Yin-yung<br />
Dated 1972<br />
Horizontal scroll, ink on paper<br />
34.7 x 274.5 cm<br />
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK<br />
Acc. no.: 1997.0057<br />
Gift of Sanbuyi Tang

Poems of Siwen Tang in Cursive Script by Ting Yin-yung
Dated 1972
Horizontal scroll, ink on paper
34.7 x 274.5 cm
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
Acc. no.: 1997.0057
Gift of Sanbuyi Tang

 

Poems in Running-Cursive Script by Ting Yin-yung<br />
Dated 1975<br />
Horizontal scroll, ink on paper<br />
38.3 x 414 cm<br />
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK<br />
Acc. no.: 2008.0479<br />
Gift of the Yip Family

Poems in Running-Cursive Script by Ting Yin-yung
Dated 1975
Horizontal scroll, ink on paper
38.3 x 414 cm
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
Acc. no.: 2008.0479
Gift of the Yip Family

 

One-stroke Cat by Ting Yin-yung<br />
Dated c. 1974-76<br />
Vertical scroll, ink on paper<br />
69.2 x 34.3 cm<br />
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK<br />
Acc. no.: 2018.0079<br />
Gift of Ms Liu Siu-jane and Mr Ma Kwai-shun

One-stroke Cat by Ting Yin-yung
Dated c. 1974-76
Vertical scroll, ink on paper
69.2 x 34.3 cm
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
Acc. no.: 2018.0079
Gift of Ms Liu Siu-jane and Mr Ma Kwai-shun

 

Seven-character Quatrain by Mi Fu in Cursive Script by Ting Yin-yung<br />
Dated c. 1974-76<br />
Hanging scroll, ink on paper<br />
138.7 x 34.5 cm<br />
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK<br />
Acc. no.: 2018.0108<br />
Gift of Mr Tsui Chi-yu

Seven-character Quatrain by Mi Fu in Cursive Script by Ting Yin-yung
Dated c. 1974-76
Hanging scroll, ink on paper
138.7 x 34.5 cm
Collection of Art Museum, CUHK
Acc. no.: 2018.0108
Gift of Mr Tsui Chi-yu

 

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