Glamour of the Jao’s Lotus 蓮蓮吉慶

In the recent decade, “lotus” has been Professor Jao Tsung-i’s major painting subject; meanwhile, he has also developed new techniques and methods for this type of painting. Therefore, lotus painting is also a symbol of his unceasing exploration of art. Professor Jao indicates that there is a reason why he loves to do lotus painting. His father named him “Tsung-i”, literally meaning “modeling yourself after Zhou Dunyi”, because his father hoped that he could learn after Zhou. Zhou was a master of the Neo-Confucianism in the Song dynasty who loved lotus, and his Ode to Lotus has been the most important essay praising lotus since then. Nonetheless, according to Professor Jao, Bada Shanren’s “Flowers on the River” is the major agent to induce him of his unique Jao’s Lotus.

There was unanimity among the Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole of The University of Hong Kong, the Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole Fan Club, and the Jao Studies Foundation that “lotus” is the theme of a touring exhibition in China this year. Therefore, Glamour of the Jao’s Lotus: Touring Exhibition Catalogue of Lotus-theme Artworks by Professor Jao Tsung-i demonstrates the lotus artworks of Professor Jao, which reveals his idea of “amalgamation of scholarship and art” and his everlasting creativity.

近十年來，荷花成了饒宗頤教授的主要繪畫題材，而他也為荷花繪畫開創了不少新的技法與路向，荷花繪畫因此象徵著他在繪畫藝術上的不斷探索。饒教授曾說過，他近年來喜歡繪寫荷花是有一定的因由。他父親為他取名「宗頤」，是要他宗法宋代理學大師周敦頤。周敦頤一生喜愛荷花，他的〈愛蓮說〉是自古以來稱頌荷花最重要的一個篇章，但是誘發饒體荷花的最重要引子，根據饒教授的說法，應為八大山人的〈河上花卷〉。

今年，香港大學饒宗頤學術館、饒宗頤學術館之友、及饒學研究基金一致同意以荷花為主題，在中國舉行巡迴展「蓮蓮吉慶──饒宗頤教授荷花書畫巡迴展」，此圖錄則記錄了今次展覽展出饒教授的各式荷花作品，同時亦展示了其「學藝雙攜」的主張，和他不斷向前的創作力。

Tang Wai Hung is the Deputy Director (Art) of the Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole of The University of Hong Kong.

鄧偉雄，香港大學饒宗頤學術館副館長（藝術）。