Remembering Master Hu: Both Teacher and Friend, His Voice and Smile Remain Today

Both Teacher and Friend: Mourning Master Hu, His Voice and Smile Remain Today

This article was first published on "Zhongpenhui Flowers, Bonsai and Viewing Stones"

Copyright belongs to the original author

I have known Master Hu Leguo for nearly 30 years. Today I was shocked to learn that Mr. Hu Leguo, after treatment for illness proved ineffective, passed away in the early hours of August 11, 2018, which grieves me deeply. Recalling the little moments I spent with him, it all seems as if it were right before my eyes.

Teacher Hu was one of the outstanding representatives of contemporary Chinese bonsai art, highly respected, excellent in both virtue and art. His "tall-trunk weeping-branch style" pine tree shaping is full of poetic charm and is much loved by bonsai enthusiasts at home and abroad. In the course of my learning bonsai, I was also influenced by Teacher Hu. Every time I attended an exhibition I would seek his advice, and Teacher Hu never tired of it, so we became friends despite the difference in age. He was low-key and optimistic. Although advanced in years, he often still served as a judge at major exhibitions, running all over the venue with everyone, sparing no effort, and everyone jokingly called him the "old young fellow."

In 2000, the Fifth National Bonsai Exhibition was held at Huqiu in Suzhou, which gave me the good fortune to see Teacher Hu's works. His pine bonsai works carried a certain natural beauty along with a rich literati style and scholarly air. He told me: the pine trees in nature are still worth learning from for us modern bonsai practitioners, and we should also draw nourishment from ancient paintings. Teacher Hu summed up the "tall trunk, weeping branches" style of pine bonsai shaping. Once Teacher Hu advocated the concept of the "tall-trunk weeping-branch style," it immediately won the admiration of bonsai enthusiasts at home and abroad. Many people believe that, compared with the short and sturdy style of Japanese pine bonsai, the elegant, unrestrained, bold and open character of "tall trunk, weeping branches" is the most Chinese. It is rooted in Chinese culture, full of the characteristics of the Chinese nation, and best embodies the stylistic features of Chinese pine bonsai. Afterward, Teacher Hu was invited to my private bonsai garden to give guidance, commenting on and instructing me on each bonsai in the garden one by one. It truly benefited me greatly, and from it I felt even more the charm of a master, which could not but inspire admiration! I even arranged with Master Hu to visit him in Wenzhou during the Spring Festival the following year to continue seeking his advice and learning from him.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year in 2001, I drove with my wife and daughter to Wenzhou to visit Teacher Hu. Upon arriving in Wenzhou, his student Liu Rongsen led us to Mr. Hu's home. Teacher Hu was very warm and excited as he showed us his rooftop bonsai garden, introducing everything to me as if counting his family treasures, which inspired me deeply and benefited me greatly. His wife even specially prepared poached eggs and osmanthus small glutinous rice balls for us, which was especially kind and warm. From then on, we became good friends who were both teacher and friend. Thanks to the connection of bonsai, we would meet every year at different events, and Teacher Hu was always so amiable.

I still remember that in 2008, Teacher Hu and I once again joined the Chinese Bonsai Artists Delegation on a cultural exchange visit to Japan. At that time Teacher Hu was already over 70 years old, but he was still full of energy. Together we visited Kimura's garden, watched Kimura's creative demonstration, visited Iwasaki Daizo's bonsai garden, and also went together to the Tokyo Museum of Art to see Japan's "Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition." Teacher Hu said: we should not only inherit China's traditional bonsai culture, but Japan's bonsai-making techniques are also worth learning from and drawing on. From time to time he would share some reflections with us and pass on some experience and stories, which made us very happy??

Now, although Teacher Hu has left us, when I think back on the little moments of my interactions with him, so many precious instants, his integrity made me deeply feel that the most precious meaning of life lies in this: when you leave this world, what can you leave behind? And how many stories can be told by later generations? Mr. Hu's immortal thoughts and character will live forever in our hearts!

The night of August 11, 2018, at Sipei Garden

Shi Peiyuan

Title: Thunder God

Specifications (cm): 120X140

Author: Shi Peiyuan

Title: Wind God

Specifications (cm): 120X140

Author: Shi Peiyuan

Master Hu Leguo's work "A View of All the Mountains Being Small" (five-needle pine, height 92cm)

Selected comments:

@Jinghui Gardening:

My master's master has passed away. At 86 this year, he devoted his whole life to the bonsai cause, and now he has gone to a better place, heaven. As a disciple, I only wish him a smooth journey. You will always live in our hearts.

On behalf of my master's master's family and disciples, thank you all for your care. He will always live in our hearts.

Teacher Hu, have a smooth journey. I always wanted to seek Teacher Hu's advice. I heard that the pine tree at the entrance of the bonsai garden in Ma'anshan Park was gifted by Teacher Hu. Every time I go, I admire it for a long time.

@Dongye Meisheng:

I was shocked to hear of the passing of Mr. Hu Leguo, and my heart is grieved. The passing of Mr. Hu Leguo is a great loss to China's bonsai world. Mr. Hu made contributions to the development of bonsai. Here I remember Mr. Leguo and wish him a safe journey! Have a smooth journey!

@The person next door planting grass on Lao Wang's head:

I heard Mr. Hu lecture in 2003. Have a smooth journey!

@Lu Jingyuan:

Master, have a smooth journey. The precious spiritual wealth you left behind will forever benefit later generations!

@Descendant of Zhongyan:

Mr. Hu Leguo's pine and cypress bonsai are truly wonderful. They embody the lofty spirit of pine and cypress, the spirit of striving upward, the spirit of not bowing to evil forces, and the pursuit of the noble sentiment of "I hate that the green pine does not grow a thousand feet tall."

@Linghui Xuhe:

The master's surviving bonsai works are the eternal continuation of Mr. Hu's life. Managing the master's surviving bonsai works well is a sign of respect and reverence for nature and for Mr. Hu's attainments in bonsai.

@If You Have a Dream, Chase It:

The pine bonsai of some masters in Jiangsu and Zhejiang have too strong a Japanese flavor, but only Master Hu's pine bonsai show a powerful Chinese style. Mr. Hu, have a smooth journey!

@Liu Junming:

Master, have a smooth journey. Deeply mourning Master Hu. His voice and face seem still present, and his bonsai style will endure forever. He is an example for our generation to learn from!

@Proper in Manner:

Master Hu Leguo came to Shuyang the year before last and spoke at the bonsai exhibition. Though the man has passed away, his works remain forever. Have a smooth journey.

@Old Man of the Void, Hanging Gourd Physician:

The Chinese spirit: like the majesty of a pine, the upright backbone, the cloud-reaching ambition that rides the wind. Yet within its proud body is contained a heart that bows its head to the earth. May the master ride the crane to the west, and may the character of pine and cypress remain forever in the world!

@Fan Junke:

In the summer of 2015, Teacher Hu Leguo, Teacher Zhang Zhigang and I went to the Lüye Mountain Villa scenic area in Ningbo, where we discussed bonsai art and cultural exchange activities with Yuan Xinyi, vice chairman of the Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture Bonsai and Viewing Stone Branch. It seems like only yesterday. Teacher Hu, have a smooth journey!

@Guo Xiaohang - Courtyard Landscaping:

Master Hu Leguo was one of the founders of the Zhejiang school of bonsai! He was a representative figure of the Zhejiang school's pine and cypress shaping! I had the great honor of being one of his students in October 1991 at the Fifth National Bonsai and Horticulture Training Class in Suzhou! Now I am shocked to learn that the master has ridden the crane to the west, and I feel deep grief! The master's departure is truly a huge loss to China's bonsai world. I wish the master a smooth journey! From now on, heaven is even more beautiful!

@Hua Man Lou:

Although I never met Mr. Hu Leguo, I learned a great deal of knowledge from his works that will benefit me for life. To speak from the bottom of my heart, I feel bad about his passing. There will be no more new works from him in the future. I have lost a good teacher I never met. My heart aches, and I also wish him a smooth journey...

Master Hu Leguo's work "Hidden Dragon in the Quiet Valley" (Huangshan pine)

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