Bonsai master Hu Leguo lives forever in the hearts of bonsai enthusiasts

Master Hu Leguo lives forever in our hearts

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

Chairman Hu Yunhua:The tall-trunk pine bonsai created by Master Hu Leguo are majestic in spirit and profound in artistic conception, pioneering a new style of Chinese bonsai. He was a master of a generation who served as a milestone in the history of Chinese bonsai development. Master Hu was excellent in both virtue and art; we will forever cherish your memory! May Master Hu rest in peace!

Master Zhao Qingquan once praised Mr. Hu's bonsai artistry, saying:

I think that in recent years, the tall-trunk with drooping branches style of pine bonsai advocated by Mr. Hu Leguo is the most Chinese in character, and best embodies the stylistic characteristics of Chinese pine bonsai.

Mr. Hu's voice and smiling face are still with us today; Teacher Hu lives forever in our hearts!

Zhejiang Society of Landscape Architecture:

We were shocked to learn that Mr. Hu Leguo, a master of Chinese bonsai art and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture, passed away due to illness. The Flowers, Bonsai and Viewing Stones Branch of the Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture and colleagues throughout the national bonsai community are filled with profound grief. We have lost a bonsai art theorist and practitioner of milestone significance in the modern development history of Chinese bonsai art; this is a tremendous loss to the Chinese bonsai cause!

Mr. Hu devoted more than sixty years to his craft, pioneering unique techniques and artistic styles for pine and cypress bonsai, and making tremendous contributions to establishing the Zhejiang bonsai style and advancing the development of Chinese bonsai art. Chinese bonsai enthusiasts will never forget him, and Mr. Hu's glorious achievements will forever be recorded in the annals of Chinese bonsai history! We will turn our grief into strength. May Mr. Hu rest in peace.

Master Hu Leguo's work "Song of the Road" (Huangshan pine)

Master Zhang Yi (first from the right) remembers Master Hu Leguo:

"Shocked to hear that Leguo has departed to the immortal realm, I am overcome with sighs. Thirty years of artistic friendship in an instant, the famous mountains have faded into the ethereal. From now on, our nation's art has lost its master; we latecomers have no path to seek the way. Heaven is not merciful! Written in tears."

A nightmare shocks and tears fall, thunder mourns,

Our nation's art has lost its towering master.

Thirty years of cherished friendship, the teacher's voice is gone,

Only the path of seeking the way remains in heaven.

The Ou River's long waves, green mountains fall,

Jiangxin Island breaks, Leguo's pine.

Wearing hemp mourning robes, I raise a handful of earth from afar, to escort you as you ride the crane to the jade palace.

-- Your late friend Zhang Yi, weeping in homage!

Peng Chunsheng remembers Master Hu Leguo:

Butterflies in Love with Flowers

Mourning Bonsai Master Mr. Hu Leguo

The terrible news strikes, the heart shivers cold,

The bonsai master,

Dear brother, may you rest well.

The Zhejiang school suddenly lacks its leading hand,

Tall-trunk combined plantings will long endure in the world.

Humble and eager to learn, daring to strive,

Tireless in teaching,

Profound and deep in transmitting the way.

Riding the crane to the heavenly palace, awaiting high promotion,

Welcoming the melody, floating in the ninth heaven.

Li Ruifeng commemorates Master Hu Leguo:

Bonsai Master Mr. Hu Leguo has passed away, leaving behind endless longing. As the poet Zang Kejia said: "Some people are alive, yet they are dead; some people are dead, yet they are alive"; this also confirms Laozi's life philosophy: "He who dies but does not perish is long-lived." Mr. Hu's breadth of mind, his depth of foundation, and his artistry will shine alongside the sun and moon, forever remaining between heaven and earth. May Mr. Hu Leguo rest in peace!

He Xiaobing (second from the left) commemorates Master Hu Leguo:

"Senior, Rest Well!"

There is a kind of beauty called simplicity to the extreme,

There is a kind of affection called deeper than late autumn,

There is a kind of gazing afar called smiling through tears.

You, departed so hurriedly,

Weathered by frost and storm,

No time to say farewell,

Before rushing onto the road to the heavenly kingdom.

You, departed so suddenly,

Without discussion,

Before letting go of life,

Checking into the station of life.

You, departed so directly,

Riding the crane to the west,

Yet without hesitation,

Following the natural cycle.

Your thoughts were so noble and great,

Your mind was so selfless and broad,

Your character was so lofty and flawless.

Your love for the motherland was boundless,

You were diligent and conscientious in your work,

You were full of hope for life.

You were a model and pride of the bonsai world,

And even more, the pride and glory of bonsai enthusiasts.

Wave your hand, bid farewell to the bonsai cause you loved.

Turn your head, bid farewell to the unforgettable nostalgia of home.

Thank you, veteran of the bonsai front, you have worked hard!

Rest now, comrade-in-arms of my late father, you were too tired!

May Mr. Hu Leguo rest in peace!

Disciple Wu Keming (first from the left)'s final farewell

-- Mourning my revered teacher Mr. Hu Leguo

Today is the day we bid farewell to our teacher. Although I too have come to understand that life is nothing but one farewell after another, and I was mentally prepared for our teacher's eternal departure, when the moment of this final farewell truly arrived, the pain was still bone-deep!

On the morning of August 11, 2018, our beloved teacher departed facing the slowly rising sun. He left us forever, leaving the bonsai that accompanied him day and night. From then on, the sky gained a shining star, and the world lost an artistic master of both virtue and art; from then on, we can no longer personally hear our teacher's earnest teachings, nor can we ever again find our teacher's voice and smiling face. The grief is beyond words.

Recalling the years of following our teacher, they were so warm, so unforgettable. Our teacher was not only diligent in creation, leaving behind a large number of masterpieces that will be passed down through generations, but he also compiled his practice and theory into multiple books, teaching the younger generation and being enthusiastic about cultivating bonsai talent. In his teachings to us disciples, our teacher was always kind and amiable. Whenever there was any question to consult him about, he would guide us meticulously and lead us along step by step. When he discovered your shortcomings, he would tactfully point them out and correct them; when he saw your progress, he would happily praise and encourage you, filling us with confidence and hope.

Our teacher was the light before our feet, the lamp on the road; he pointed out and illuminated the direction of our advance! Our teacher not only taught us how to shape trees, but also taught us how to conduct ourselves as people. I often count myself fortunate to have met a teacher I can admire for a lifetime; and I often think, was our teacher not a milestone in our nation's bonsai history? He created the new concept of the "tall-trunk with drooping branches" pine bonsai style, he advanced the formation of the Zhejiang bonsai style, and he promoted the development of our nation's bonsai cause. The title of "Master of Chinese Bonsai Art" is a comprehensive assessment of his exquisite craftsmanship, while the "Lifetime Achievement Award in Bonsai Art" is a historical judgment of his outstanding contributions to the bonsai cause. Our teacher was a master of a generation worthy of serving as a model for the bonsai art world, and his passing is a tremendous loss to the bonsai art cause of our nation and the world.

"The green pine holds sorrow, gazing as the crane departs; the river wind sobs, praising the teacher's grace." Rest in peace! Teacher, your classic works have become immortal, your art theories have penetrated deep into the hearts of contemporary bonsai enthusiasts, your noble character has become our exemplar, and your glorious achievements will surely be recorded in the annals of Chinese bonsai history! As students, we will certainly follow your teachings, tread in your footsteps, and continue the bonsai art cause to which you devoted your entire life!

May our teacher rest in peace! We will forever cherish your memory!

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

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