A song from Chengdu revived a closed-down pub.

Yang Chunsheng suddenly remembered how he had talked so eloquently and pontificated to Su Fan in the exhibition hall that day.

At that moment, his face turned bright red.

"Oh dear, my old chairman, you...you've really put me in a terrible situation!" Yang Chunsheng was both annoyed and agitated. "So, I was just showing off my limited skills in front of the original author, and...and even lecturing them?! Where will I put my face if word gets out?!"

"Serves you right. You always think you're so important, now you've finally met your match!"

Despite being teased like this, Yang Chunsheng wasn't annoyed at all. On the contrary, the more he thought about it, the more excited he became: "No way, old chairman, such a great talent, we have to do everything we can to invite him into the calligraphy association! With him, how can our calligraphy world not have a future! You have to help me, you absolutely have to help me get introduced to him!"

"What's the rush? He's only just shown his face. By the way, that kid didn't just write some words this time; he also wrote a song."

"A song?" Yang Chunsheng was taken aback.

"What did you even watch in that video? You didn't even finish watching it before you came here yelling at me. You're such a grown man, you can't even keep your temper in check."

Upon hearing this, Yang Chunsheng became excited again: "A song about calligraphy?! Old Chairman, you know that what our art of calligraphy lacks most is something that can resonate with young people! A good song is worth a hundred exhibitions; this is a great thing for our calligraphy community!"

"Alright, alright, you're so impatient. Go ahead and get busy."

……

After hanging up the phone, Yang Chunsheng couldn't wait to play the song.

The song is called "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion".

Yang Chunsheng was very familiar with this name.

Whether or not you're involved in the calligraphy circle, you're probably familiar with these three characters.

That is the finest example of running script in the world, a masterpiece by Wang Xizhi, an insurmountable monument in the history of calligraphy.

Yang Chunsheng muttered to himself, "Could it be that he's going to sing the entire 'Preface to the Orchid Pavilion'?"

Yang Chunsheng thought this way because Su Fan had sung "Bring in the Wine" before.

Thinking of this, the content of that famous ancient text involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

"In the ninth year of Yonghe, the year of Guichou, at the beginning of late spring, we gathered at the Orchid Pavilion in Shanyin, Kuaiji..."

He was even prepared to hear how Su Fan would set that classical Chinese preface to music.

But just as he was thinking about these things, Su Fan's singing voice came out.

"The calligraphy of the Lanting Preface is as smooth as flowing clouds and water."

Under the moonlight, you push open the door, your footsteps delicate and light.

While it's easy to make rubbings of ancient monuments, it's difficult to capture your beauty.

To whom can one truly give their genuine work?

……

When the melodious and beautiful tune began, it was not the preface he had imagined at all.

The song describes the graceful flow of cursive script when practicing calligraphy.

It's that delicate and tender feeling when you push open the door under the moonlight.

It skillfully blends the brushstrokes of calligraphy with a subtle and profound sentiment.

Yang Chunsheng was stunned.

This is completely different from the "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion" he had imagined.

He originally thought that he would set the ancient texts to music in a very formal and meticulous manner.

However, Su Fan's poem borrows the name of "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion" to capture the artistic conception and charm of that calligraphy.

Then, with a gentle sentiment as its core, the elegance of ink and brush, along with the subtle beauty of the East, are blended into the melody.

The flowing melody is just like the elegant calligraphy on the paper.

And that lingering and poignant mood is just like the calm and focused state of mind when practicing calligraphy.

Calligraphy and music blended together in a way he had never imagined.

Yang Chunsheng then realized that Su Fan's brilliance lay not in replicating that ancient text at all.

Su Fan's move captured the essence while discarding the form.

He transformed the beauty of calligraphy, which can only be understood intuitively and is difficult to describe, into melody and artistic conception.

This song allows even someone who has never practiced calligraphy or understands it to truly feel the unique, graceful, and profound charm of the brushstrokes.

This is truly subtle and pervasive influence.

"Wonderful...wonderful!"

Yang Chunsheng couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

The song continues.

"The shepherd's flute plays horizontally, accompanied by yellow wine and a few dishes of appetizers."

The afterglow of the setting sun is like your shy, intoxicated beauty.

Copying is easy, but the fragrance of ink lingers, leaving you with a lasting impression.

Who exactly was circled by that line of vermilion?

……

In that melodious tune, a picture scroll of misty Jiangnan slowly unfolds.

Shepherd's flute, yellow wine, side dishes, sunset, afterglow.

With just a few strokes, a warm and classical artistic conception is depicted.

It looks just like a light ink wash painting.

The phrase "Copying is easy, but the fragrance of ink never fades" cleverly combines the imagery of calligraphy with that lingering and profound sentiment.

The calligraphy copybook is easy to imitate, but the lingering fragrance of ink on the paper and the unforgettable feelings in my heart leave a lasting impression on you.

Hearing this, Yang Chunsheng became even more engrossed.

He savored the words, “A line of vermilion, who exactly is circled?” It borrowed the imagery of annotations in calligraphy, but what it expressed was that subtle and unspeakable emotion.

This ingenious idea, which blends the charm of ink and brush with Eastern sentiments so naturally and appropriately, even made this veteran expert, who has been immersed in calligraphy all his life, unable to help but applaud it.

"Absolutely amazing... Absolutely amazing!"

Yang Chunsheng could no longer contain his excitement.

He originally thought that Su Fan was just trying to gain popularity by using calligraphy.

The more he listened, the more he understood that this young man had truly grasped the soul of calligraphy.

He did not rigidly repeat those profound theories of brushwork.

Instead, it transforms the beauty of calligraphy's ethereal essence into melody, into visual imagery, and into a tender sentiment that everyone can understand and be moved by.

Someone who has never practiced calligraphy might not be able to explain what "the force penetrates the paper" or "the depth penetrates the wood" means.

But as soon as he listens to this song, he can truly feel the unique Eastern gentleness and deep affection hidden in the ink.

This is the most skillful form of inheritance.

Do not look down from a superior position.

Don't pretend to be profound.

Rather, like the fragrance of ink in this song, it seeps into people's hearts without them even realizing it.

Not only were people in the calligraphy circle moved, but people in the ancient style circle were also extremely excited when they heard this "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion".

Because in their eyes, this song was practically written for them.

Ever since Su Fan's "The Prison Warden" came out of nowhere, people in the ancient style music circle have regarded him as one of their own.

Now, another version of "Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion" brimming with the charm of classical Eastern art has been created.

Running script, calligraphy practice, the fragrance of ink, cinnabar—these are all images they cherish.

That subtle and profound artistic conception, like ink spreading in a painting, touched their aesthetic core.

The traditional Chinese style community is once again in an uproar.