Lin Yu-Shan • GOOD IDEA ONLINE ART MUSEUM

玉峰雄姿

Lin Yu-Shan(1907-2004)

Lin Yushan was one of the “Three Boys of Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition” during the Japanese occupation period in Taiwan. Throughout his 80 years of creative endeavors, he has elevated Taiwan’s landscape, people, and ecology to a poetic level starting from sketching. Amidst the turbulent currents of the post-war Taiwan art community’s “orthodox Chinese painting controversy,” he traveled leisurely between the worlds of gouache and ink. With his exceptional compositions, he garnered widespread friendship and respect from both China-based painters and local painters, becoming one of the representative painters with significant historical positioning in Taiwan’s modern painting history.

*From Poetics of Terroir: Lin Yushan/Author: Hsiao Ching-Rui

CHRONOLOGY

1907	Born in Meijie, Chiayi City, originally named Yinggui, also known as Jinshui, written as Lixian, later renamed Yushan, known as Yun Qiaozi, from Tirosen and Chiayi, he moved to Taipei and named his studio “Rong Hsi Cao Tang”.
1914	Entered Chiayi First Public School (Chung-Wen Elementary School).
1915	His family opened a framing store called “Feng Ya Xuan” and he studied painting with the hired painter, Tsai Cheng-Xiang.
1922	Introduced by his cousin, he studied painting of the four flowers with Asaue Isaka and experienced poetry, calligraphy and painting of the literati for more than three years.
1923	His painting “The Tiger from the Mountain” was elected to the exhibition of the Calligraphy and Painting Division of the Chiayi Chamber of Commerce, the first time he participated in an exhibition.
1924	He studied watercolor and sketching with Tan Teng-pho. He was given the name “Lixian” by the famous scholar Zhang Ming-san.
1926	He went to Tokyo to study painting at the Kawabata School of Painting and entered the Western Painting Department, and in June, he transferred to the Japanese Painting Department.
1927	Exhibited “The Great South Gate” and “Water Buffalo” in the first Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition.
1928	Wedded Huang Hui. Entered the second Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition with his work “Ting Mao”.Invited artists from Chiayi and Tainan to participate and established the “Chun Meng Painting Association” with the selected Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition painters as axis members.
1929	Lin Yushan and Chiayi literati organized the “Ya She Painting and Calligraphy Association” and held a painting exhibition. His works “Zhou Lianxi” and “Halcyon Rain” were exhibited in the third Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition. The famous scholar Su Ying-Tsun named him “Yushan”.
1930	In February, he joined the sandan society, which was established by Gobara Koto. Introduced to the “Gull Society” by a fellow painter, Chu Fu-ting, and studied poetry under Lai Hui-chuan. His work “Lotus Pond” won the “Special Selection” in the 4th Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition.
1931	Joins the “Chiayi Society” and participates in the annual Chiayi Joint Poetry Conference. The 5th Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition, received no inspection entry for the work “Zhu Luan”.
1932	Organized a book club with Chu Fu-Ting and others. The sixth Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition, the work “Sugar Cane”, was selected as the second best special selection.
1933	First solo exhibition at the Xiluo Guild Hall. Organized the “Li Kuang Association” with Lu Tieh-Chu, Guo Xue-Hu and Chen Jing-Hui, and held exhibitions every spring. The seventh Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition featured “Sunset” and won the first prize special select.
1934	The eighth Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition featured “Bai Yu Puo”. Held a second solo exhibition at the Taiwan Ri Ri Xin Bao office.
1935	In May, he went to Kyoto to study at the Togusha Painting School, founded by Insho Domoto(1893-1976). Selected for the 7th Nagoya Art Exhibition in Japan with his flower and bird painting “Fig”. The ninth Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition featured “Garden Memory of the Past”.
1936	Returned to Taiwan from Japan. In May, he held his third solo exhibition at Chiayi Guild Hall, “Exhibition of Works in Kyoto”. The seventh Sandan exhibition featured “Liguang”, a final exhibition of the Sandan Society. The 10th Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition featured “Dawn” and he received a medal for his 10th consecutive year of exhibition.
1938	Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition was renamed as Taiwan Governor’s Office Art Exhibition, and his first work, “Mighty Vision”, was not examined. Illustrated a novel serialized in Taiwan Ri Ri Xin and Feng Yue Newspaper.
1939	In January, participated in the Japanese Manchurian Goodwill Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition. Selected for the second Taiwan Governor’s Office Art Exhibition “Pending”.
1940	The 6th Taiyang Art Exhibition established the Oriental Division and joined the Taiyang Art Association. The 3rd Taiwan Governor’s Office Art Exhibition featured the “Spring of the Island” selection.
1941	The 4th Taiwan Governor’s Office Art Exhibition featured “Cow”.
1942	Illustrated Yang Kui’s translations of The Three Kingdoms, The Journey to the West, and Li Xianzhang’s Rituals and Practices. Xiao Ai received recommendation by the 5th Taiwan Governor’s Office Art Exhibition.
1943	Joined the General Affairs Division of Chiayi Soy Sauce Association. In May, the “Taiwan Fine Arts Association” was established and served as a director.
1945	Inscribed couplets for Biyun Temple in Guanziling.
1946	Served as an art teacher in Chiayi City High School. Appointed as a member of the review committee of the Chinese Painting Department for the “Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition”; exhibited “Bamboo Bird” and “Horse in Willow” for the first time.
1948	Served as an art teacher in Chiayi City High School. Appointed as a member of the review committee of the Chinese Painting Department for the “Taiwan Provincial Art Exhibition”; exhibited “Bamboo Bird” and “Horse in Willow” for the first time.
1949	Transitioned to the position of art teacher at Chiayi Provincial High School. Painted murals for Cilong Temple in Chiayi City.
1950	He moved to Taipei and taught at the Blessed Imelda’s School.
1951	Taught part-time in the Art Department of Taiwan Provincial Normal College. Appointed as a reviewer for the province’s student art exhibition.
1956	Transferred to the Department of Art, Taiwan Provincial Normal University as a teacher. Published the first collection of “Yushan’s paintings” by Chun Meng Art Institute.
1957	Appointed as a member of the Aesthetic Education Committee of the Ministry of Education. Served as a member of the 4th National Art Exhibition’s Chinese Painting Department. Participated in a delegation of professors from the Art Department of Taiwan Provincial Normal University to Japan.
1961	Formed the “Eight Friends Painting Association” with Ma Shaowen, Wang Zhanru, Zheng Yuebo, Hu Kemin, Fu Qiwu, Ji Kang, and Chen Dancheng.
1964	Relocated to an apartment on Jinhua Street. His fourth solo exhibition was held at the Provincial Museum, and the second collection of “Yushan’s Paintings” was published by Chun Meng Art Institute.
1966	In October, he held a small exhibition in Kobe, went to Kyoto to visit his teacher, Domoto, and visited Seigai Kinoshita in Kokura, Kyushu. Returned to Tokyo, visited Tokyo University of the Arts and museums with Li Meishu and Hong Ruilin.
1966-67	He flew from Tokyo to Singapore for his fifth solo exhibition and lectured at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Traveled to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
1969	Received the Golden Duke Award from the Chinese Painting Society.
1970	Awarded the cultural and artistic painting prize by the Ministry of Education.
1972	In May, founded the “Changliu Painting Association” with Xu Shenzhou, Chen Jin, Huang Goubo, Lin Zhisuke and Chen Huikun, and held the first exhibition at the Provincial Museum.
1974	Participated in a special exhibition of tiger paintings at the Museum of History in the Year of the Tiger. Invited to visit the U.S. and held his sixth solo exhibition at St. John’s University in October.
1975	In April, invited to lecture at the University of Wisconsin.
1977	Retired from the Department of Fine Arts of National Taiwan Normal University, but continued to teach part-time until 1992.
1979	Attended the opening ceremony of the 15th anniversary of the Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition in Tokyo on behalf of the R.O.C. artists, and exchanged exhibitions with the Southern Academy in Japan.
1987	Attended the opening ceremony of the 15th anniversary of the Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition in Tokyo on behalf of the R.O.C. artists, and exchanged exhibitions with the Southern Academy in Japan.
1988	Attended the opening ceremony of the 15th anniversary of the Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition in Tokyo on behalf of the R.O.C. artists, and exchanged exhibitions with the Southern Academy in Japan.
1989	In June, invited by the National Museum of History, held a joint exhibition with Chen Jin and Chen Huikun.
1990	Received the 15th National Arts and Culture Special Contribution Award. Participated in the founding of the Taipei City gouache painting association “Taiwan Green Water Painting Association”.
1991	Held the “Lin Yushan Retrospective” at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum in March.
1997	Received the 15th National Arts and Culture Special Contribution Award. Participated in the founding of the Taipei City gouache painting association “Taiwan Green Water Painting Association”.
1999	Held the “Lin Yushan Retrospective” at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum in March.
2000	Held the “Lin Yushan Retrospective” at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum in March.
2003	Held “Lin Yushan’s Homecoming Exhibition” at Chiayi City Cultural Center.
2004	Exhibition at the Museum of History: “88th Executive Yuan Cultural Award – Prof. Lin Yushan’s Creative Works”.
2006	Held the “Painting Nature: Lin Yushan’s Paintings” exhibition at the Soka Gakkai Art Center in Taiwan.
2015	Held the “Lin Yushan 98 Retrospective” at the Changliu Art Museum and published an album. Passed away in August.
2016	Held a 100th anniversary exhibition at the National Museum of History, “The World of Lin Yushan’s Paintings”.