A Calligraphic Work by Chen Shixiang (1912–1971)

Chen Shixiang (1912–1971), courtesy name Zilong and sobriquet Shixiang, was one of the foremost scholars of Chinese literature in the twentieth century and a pioneering figure in the development of Sinology in the United States. Beginning in 1945, he joined the Department of Oriental Languages at the University of California, Berkeley (now the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures), where he specialized in Chinese classical literature, poetics, and comparative literature. He also played an instrumental role in the establishment of Berkeley's programs in Comparative Literature and the Center for Chinese Studies, profoundly shaping the development of Chinese literary studies in postwar America.

This intimate calligraphic inscription, dated 1948, was created during the formative years of Chen's academic career at Berkeley. The inscription reads, “To behold the sun, the moon, and the stars; with esteemed friends and a cup of wine, today is a day for joy,” and is dedicated to “E.K.,” signed, “Respectfully, Chen Shixiang, 1948.” Executed with an elegant and restrained literati hand, the work embodies the traditional ideals of friendship, scholarship, and cultivated leisure while reflecting the intellectual life of Chinese scholars living abroad in the years following the Second World War.

Particularly noteworthy is Chen's incorporation of forms inspired by ancient Chinese bronze inscriptions (jinwen) and seal script. Drawing upon his profound knowledge of classical Chinese literature and paleography, he adopted archaic character forms to evoke the aesthetic spirit of early Chinese writing. This distinctive approach reflects the close relationship between his scholarly pursuits and his calligraphic practice, lending the work both artistic individuality and intellectual depth.

More importantly, the work belongs to the formative period of what may be described as the Berkeley Chinese Intellectual Circle. Centered around the University of California, Berkeley, this remarkable community brought together many of the most influential Chinese scholars, writers, and intellectuals of the twentieth century, including Chen Shixiang, C. T. Hsia, Chuang Hsin-cheng, and, later, Eileen Chang (Zhang Ailing). Through their scholarship, teaching, and literary activities, they established Berkeley as one of the foremost centers for Chinese studies outside China and profoundly influenced the international study of Chinese literature and culture.

In 1969, with the recommendation of C. T. Hsia and Chuang Hsin-cheng, Chen Shixiang invited the celebrated novelist Eileen Chang (Zhang Ailing, 1920–1995) to join Berkeley's Center for Chinese Studies as a Research Associate. The appointment provided Chang with much-needed financial stability during the later years of her life and enabled her to continue her research on Dream of the Red Chamber while making extensive use of Berkeley's outstanding East Asian Library. Although their collaboration ultimately ended because of differing expectations regarding academic research and Chang's independent literary approach, their professional relationship has become one of the best-known episodes in the history of modern Chinese literature and overseas Chinese studies. Following Chen Shixiang's sudden death from a heart attack in Berkeley in 1971, Chang attended his memorial service despite the disagreements that had arisen between them, a poignant reminder of their enduring mutual respect.

Of particular significance is the fact that this inscription shares the same dedicatee as Lot 3402, Zhang Ailing (Eileen Chang)'s Calligraphy on Umbrella, in the present sale. Chen Shixiang dedicated this work to “E.K.,” while Chang's umbrella bears the dedication to “Mr. Little K,” almost certainly referring to the same recipient. This shared dedication establishes a direct historical connection between the two works and provides rare documentary evidence of the personal relationships within the Berkeley Chinese Intellectual Circle. Together, these two inscriptions illuminate the intertwined lives of Chen Shixiang and Eileen Chang, two towering figures whose careers intersected at Berkeley during a pivotal moment in the history of Chinese literary scholarship in America.

More than simply a piece of calligraphy, this work serves as an important historical document preserving the intellectual network that shaped Chinese studies in the United States during the postwar period. With its clear date, personal dedication, and exceptional historical context, it represents a remarkable artifact of the Berkeley Chinese Intellectual Circle and offers valuable insight into one of the most influential communities of overseas Chinese scholars in the twentieth century.

Image: Height 6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm); Width 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm).

陈世骧（1912–1971），字子龙，号石湘，河北滦县人，二十世纪最重要的中国文学研究学者之一，也是美国汉学发展的奠基人物之一。1945年起任教于美国加州大学伯克利分校东方语文学系（今东亚语言与文化系，Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures），长期从事中国古典文学、中国诗学及比较文学研究，并参与筹建伯克利比较文学系和中国研究中心，对战后美国中国文学研究的发展产生了深远影响。

本件书法作于1948年，书“观日月星辰，高朋樽酒今为乐”，并题赠“E.K.”，落款“一九四八年，弟陈世骧”。作品笔意古朴，用笔简练，既流露出传统文人的书卷气，也体现出旅美学者寄情诗酒、珍重友谊的人文情怀。

尤为值得注意的是，作品吸收了商周金文（钟鼎文）及篆书的部分字形特征。凭借其深厚的中国古典文学与古文字学修养，陈世骧在书写中适当借鉴古文字形态，以营造古雅浑厚的艺术意趣。这种兼具学术背景与艺术表达的书写方式，充分体现了其文学研究、古文字学与书法实践之间的密切联系，也赋予了作品鲜明的个人风格和深厚的人文内涵。

更重要的是，这件作品诞生于伯克利中国研究发展的早期阶段，见证了二十世纪美国西海岸逐渐形成的“伯克利华人知识共同体”（Berkeley Chinese Intellectual Circle）。以加州大学伯克利分校为中心，一批具有世界影响力的中国学者、文学家和思想家先后汇聚于此，共同推动了中国文学、历史、哲学及艺术研究在欧美的发展。陈世骧、夏志清、庄信正，以及后来受邀来到伯克利的张爱玲，皆是这一知识共同体的重要成员。他们之间既有学术合作，也有思想碰撞，共同构成了海外中国人文学术史上一段极具影响力的历史。

1969年，在夏志清、庄信正等人的推荐下，陈世骧邀请中国现代文学巨匠张爱玲（1920–1995）担任加州大学伯克利分校中国研究中心研究员。这份工作不仅为当时经济拮据的张爱玲提供了稳定收入，也使她能够长期利用伯克利丰富的东亚图书馆馆藏，继续完成其晚年最重要的《红楼梦》研究。虽然双方最终因对学术研究方式的不同理解以及张爱玲独立的文学创作理念而结束合作，但他们之间的关系已成为现代中国文学史与海外汉学史中最广为人知的一段往事之一。1971年陈世骧在伯克利因心脏病猝然辞世后，张爱玲仍出席其追悼会，这段经历也成为两人关系最令人感慨的结尾。

尤为值得注意的是，本件作品与本次拍卖Lot 3402《张爱玲〈伞面书法〉》（Zhang Ailing (Eileen Chang)'s Calligraphy on Umbrella）具有相同的上款对象。陈世骧此件题赠“E.K.”，而张爱玲作品则题赠“小K先生”，两者应为同一受赠者的不同称谓。这一共同上款不仅建立了两件作品之间直接的历史联系，也进一步印证了伯克利华人知识共同体内部紧密的人际网络。两位在现代中国文学与海外汉学史上具有重要地位的人物，分别为同一位友人留下墨迹，使两件作品彼此呼应，相互印证，不仅具有珍贵的收藏与文献价值，更为研究陈世骧、张爱玲及其共同生活、工作于伯克利时期的文化交流提供了难得的第一手实物资料。

因此，这件1948年的书法不仅是一件陈世骧早年旅美时期的珍贵墨迹，更是伯克利华人知识共同体形成初期的重要历史见证。它串联起陈世骧、夏志清、庄信正、张爱玲等二十世纪最具影响力的一代海外华人知识分子的学术网络，折射出战后美国汉学的发展、伯克利中国研究中心的建立，以及现代中国文学在海外传播的历史进程。作为一件具有明确纪年、题赠对象和完整历史背景的作品，其历史、文学与学术价值，远远超越了一般意义上的书法作品，是研究二十世纪海外中国知识分子文化交流与学术发展的重要实物见证。

画心尺寸：高 6 3/8 英寸（16.2 厘米），宽 4 5/8 英寸（11.7 厘米）。