Memorial | Thinking of Xie Lao: He is a man from the Republic of China

On May 2, Mr. Xie Chensheng (1922-2022), known as "a living history of Chinese cultural relics protection", passed away at the age of 100. As early as the 1950s, under the leadership of Zheng Zhenduo, he participated in and witnessed the rescue and return of national treasure-level cultural relics such as "Mid-Autumn Post", "Boyuan Post" and "Xiaoxiang Map". Xie Chensheng is the main author of the Interim Regulations of the State Council on the Protection and Administration of Cultural Relics (1961) and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics (1982).
The special issue of "The Paper: Ancient Art" published a memoir article written by Xie Lao's assistant Xiu Shuxin in his later years.
On the morning of May 2, Xie Chensheng passed away at the age of 100. He was born at the time of the hour and went away at the hour of the hour.
After knowing the news of his death, call or send messages to his old friends and people who used to visit him frequently. This is the etiquette he taught me during his lifetime. Several of them, such as Sheng Yonghua, are still asking how his wife, Auntie Wang, is doing well. They tell the truth: they passed away last summer. In the past few days, there have been constant phone messages, and there are really many people who miss him. On May 6, I said my final farewell to Xie Chensheng. After finishing the funeral, I had time to write about him in my mind.
More than ten years ago, thanks to the introduction of Mr. Danqing, I was able to accompany him often. Xie Chensheng and Teacher Danqing have a very deep relationship. They are mentors and apprentices, just like father and son. I am the most direct witness to the friendship between them. Teacher Dan Qing asked me to take care of Xie Chensheng's daily life in Beijing to the best of his ability. Xie Chensheng is old and tall. I called him grandpa. When I introduced him to the outside world, he said that I was his student. During the ten years that I have known him, he treated me like a granddaughter, loving and caring, with a lot of guidance, encouragement and help. Thinking back carefully, over the years, I have never met his cold criticism. If he does something wrong, he will get angry, but the object of his anger is not me, but someone else. For him, I am Feeling overprotective.

Xie Chensheng's work in his early years

He came from the era of the Republic of China. He was both enlightened and educated in the Republic of China. He has a family background. Although he only graduated from high school, he has a profound cultural quality. Cousin Xie Guozhen is 21 years older than him, his mother died early, and his father is busy with official business, so he basically grew up with his cousin. Xie Guozhen is Liang Qichao's proud student, has a wealth of books, and contacts with famous scholars in literature and history. His only daughter Xie Ying and Xie Chensheng are similar in age, but they don't like literature and history. Xie Guozhen has a humorous personality, likes and is good at telling stories. He often tells him historical allusions, ancient book editions, and golden stone tablet editions. Xie Chensheng always said that the more he listened, the more he liked it. When he gradually forgets many people and things, he still remembers his big brother. Another person I will still remember is Zheng Zhenduo. Zheng Zhenduo has had a deep influence on him. This is something I have gradually realized when I often let him talk about the past. Zheng Zhenduo, it's just that he can't learn the habit of Zheng Zhenduo's love of drinking old wine, because he is allergic to alcohol. With these two scholars, Xie Chensheng had the opportunity to have direct contact with many cultural celebrities, such as Ma Heng, Xu Senyu, Ye Shengtao, Lu Kanru, Lu Shuxiang, Qian Zhongshu, Zhao Puchu, Zhou Zuoren and so on. When Xie Chensheng said that culture is the root and soul of a nation, he often mentioned the story of Gao Huan. He said that Gao Huan, the founder of the Northern Qi Dynasty, was originally a Han Chinese, but became a Huhuan. His son Gao Yang summoned Gao Huan when he became emperor. Du Bi, the former member of the former department, asked about the strategy of employing people to run the country and secure the country. Du Bi answered honestly, "Xianbei chariots and horses will have to use Chinese people." Gao Yang thought that Du Bi was ridiculing him, a Xianbei, for his lack of culture. killed. Xie Chensheng always heard this story from Chen Yinke's chat. He thought that Chen Yinke's discussion was very exciting, and he kept it in mind. In the process of his growth, there were many opportunities to hear stories and learn knowledge like this. Later, he communicated with Shang Chengzuo, Gu Tinglong, Su Bingqi, Xie Zhiliu, Qi Gong, Fang Xing, Yang Renkai, Zhang Han, Zheng Xiaoxie, Su Bai, Feng Qiyong, Ma Chengyuan, Xu Pingfang, Zhou Ganzhi, Wang Qingzheng, Jin Chongji, Fu Xinian, etc. Many, his traditional cultural skills have never been underestimated by these academics. Not only the old school has a solid foundation, but Xie Chensheng's English is also very good. I remember one time I accompanied him on a business trip to Zhenjiang, the Chinese hometown of American writer Pearl Buck, who lived there for 18 years. After chatting with the local Pearl Buck researcher, Xie Chensheng always recited a large paragraph in front of me. I was surprised that he could recite a large paragraph in English when he was in his 90s. "Earth". Xie Chensheng is very talented in language, and can communicate with the locals normally. He has four goddaughters, the daughters he made friends with when he was young. The goddaughters often call him to greet him. The language used for communication is Shanghai dialect. Now I only remember one word "Gazimu", it is What the goddaughters mean when they call Xie Chensheng's wife. He can also sing Suzhou Pingtan, Shaanbei Bangzi, etc. When he is happy, he can have a piece in front of his wife and some of our acquaintances.

In 1995, the members of the ancient painting and calligraphy appraisal team reunited at the Dayuan Hotel in Beijing.

The ancient calligraphy and painting identification team is on tour

He has only done the protection of cultural relics in his life, and his only work unit is the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. It is not an exaggeration to say that he is the only witness and important participant in the whole process of cultural relics protection in New China. Since he came to Shanghai in 1946 as Zheng Zhenduo's assistant, he has been engaged in the protection of cultural relics all his life, except for the three years of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea. Even during the three-year period of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea, his establishment was still in the Cultural Relics Bureau, and he also helped North Korea protect cultural relics. He wrote in "A Letter from the Korean Front to the People of the Motherland" (published on the fourth page of the People's Daily on March 19, 1951): "Not long ago I passed by the ruins where King Lee of Joseon once lived. There is now a national history museum, with some buildings from the Ming Dynasty. Unfortunately, this cultural heritage with historical and artistic value was bombed by enemy planes on the afternoon we arrived! This time, ninety-six people were bombed. Peaceful residents died and more than 60 were injured. While the fire was still burning, some of our comrades caught fire and rescued more than 100 scrolls of calligraphy and paintings and some ceramics. There I happened to meet a North Korean youth who was working in a museum. Jin Zenglin. In his house, I found a rare archaeological book - "Lelang". I wrote Chinese characters and told him that this book is very precious in China. He was surprised that I also understood this!" After retiring, or even during a serious illness, Xie Chensheng did not stop working. The question of whether to retire has also troubled him for a while. He reported to the Cultural Relics Department of the Cultural Takeover Committee of the Beiping Military Control Commission in September 1949. At that time, he saw Luo Ge. Luo Ge said that Xie Chen was getting old and Zheng Zhenduo called to inform him that the Cultural Relics Bureau has not yet been established. , let him go back first. At that time, the Cultural Relics Bureau was still preparing, and Wang Yeqiu was in charge of the preparations. After reporting in, Xie Chensheng went back to Shanghai to help Zheng Zhenduo move, and only returned to Beijing for more than a month. In this way, if you encounter trouble when going through the retirement procedures, you can only solve it after writing proof materials. Retired at the age of 73. After retiring, he is still busy with the protection of cultural relics, even more busy than the general staff of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. After the age of 90, he still works five or six hours a day. This state has been That lasted until 2018, when he was 96 years old. After the age of 96, his physical condition has not been very good. When his condition has improved a little, he will be concerned about work and occasionally go out to participate in activities. His thoughts and thoughts have always been cultural relics protection, and he hopes that his health will be better. Get up, so that we can continue to adhere to the correct policy and direction of the Cultural Relics Protection Law, so that we can continue to fight against illegal incidents that destroy cultural relics.

Group photo with Jin Yi (first from left) in Yangde, North Korea in 1952

In May 2019, a group photo was taken in front of the former residence of Wang Guowei in Haining.

In December 2020, he participated in the annual meeting of the Committee for the Protection of Historic and Cultural Cities in Xicheng District, Beijing.

"Instructions of the Administrative Council of the Central People's Government on the Protection of Ancient Cultural Relics Buildings", "Relics Export Appraisal Reference Standards", "Interim Measures for the Protection and Management of Cultural Relics Protection Units", "Interim Measures for the Renovation of Revolutionary Memorial Buildings, Historical Memorial Buildings, Ancient Buildings, and Grotto Temples", "Museums" Trial Measures for the Safeguarding of Collections, Several Opinions on the Protection of Cultural Relics and Books in the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, Code of Conduct for Cultural Relics Workers, Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics, and the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage on Severely Crackdown on the Criminal Activities of Robbery and Excavation of Ancient Tombs "Opinions", "Guidelines for the Protection of Chinese Cultural Relics and Monuments", "Interim Measures for the Protection and Management of Cultural Relics in the Camp Areas of the Nanjing Military Region", "Notice of the State Council on Strengthening Cultural Heritage Protection"... There are 50 legal documents on Chinese cultural relics drafted by Xie Chensheng or as an important participant. In many cases, he has made great contributions to the gradual establishment of the new China's cultural relics protection legal system. The reproduction of the embroidered dragon robes of the Emperor Wanli of the Ming Tombs, the excavation and protection of the Nanyue King’s tomb, the reproduction of the bells of Zeng Houyi, the protection of cultural relics in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, the third national cultural relics census, the declaration of the Liangzhu site as a world heritage site, the protection of the Jingdezhen imperial kiln site... have made outstanding contributions. The protection of the ancient city of Beijing, the protection of the ancient city of Nanjing, the protection of the ancient city of Changzhou, the protection of the Fifth Avenue in Tianjin... His achievements in cultural relic protection can be listed in a long list, but he rarely mentions his past achievements, because he always has a job If he is busy, he will only talk about the past when he is involved in his work or if he is specially asked in private.

The 30th anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of the King of Nanyue, from left to right are Zhang Zhongpei, Geng Baochang, Xie Chensheng, and Quanhong.

His life is full of fighting spirit, fighting against wrong tendencies in cultural relic policies and regulations, and fighting against stakeholders who demolish and destroy cultural relics in the protection of cultural relics and historic sites. He is dedicated to the public, dares to adhere to principles, and is not moved by fame and fortune. His life is very simple, and he is never afraid of retaliation. Once he asked me to call the person who had just visited him and urged them to come back to get the large amount of cash they had secretly left behind. He asked me to tell them to come back quickly, or he would hand it over to the Disciplinary Committee , that person can only come back obediently to get it, he said that this kind of thing happened many times before. There are also local mayors who gave him gold bricks, and he persuaded him. Later, I accompanied him on a business trip to the city where the mayor was promoted, and Xie Chensheng told me that if I called him, he would have to invite us to dinner. Xie Chensheng has also received threatening calls many times, and there are people who say what kind of cruel words. I once asked him, block the developer's fortune, are you not afraid of people coming to retaliate? He was sitting on the sofa with a walking stick in his hand. This walking stick was a tourist souvenir he bought when he took his family to visit the Great Wall. He liked it very much and often brought it around at home. Outside of work, he has also been battling the disease. At the age of 71, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer, which later metastasized to lung and lung cancer, and had undergone many major operations. Except for the most painful period, the average person cannot see that he is a cancer patient. His attitude towards cancer is that when it's time for treatment, listen to the doctor's advice and do it well, take whatever medicine you need to take on time, and keep busy the rest of the time.

Self Condition Poems

Ming Zhi Poetry

Xie Chensheng is very tenacious in his work. He is a person who is good at thinking and discretion. He will always spare no effort to promote the things that he believes should be done and are conducive to the protection of cultural relics. He has lived in An Zhenli's old house for decades. He lives in 302 with a one-bedroom, and his wife lives in 301 with a two-bedroom next to him. Apart from the time to buy food, cook and watch news broadcasts, he and his wife are basically two people. do not interfere with each other. There are often visitors during the day, and young people from younger generations often come to chat with him at night. In the dead of night, it was time for him to think and write seriously. He will repeatedly consider how things should be done, who can solve the problem, the promotion of many important things, and the writing of many letters, he thinks and finishes in the middle of the night. So he is a night owl, often going to bed at two or three o'clock at night, or even getting up at eight or nine in the morning. This routine of life and rest was not broken until he moved to a new house at the age of 95. After moving to a new house, the living environment has improved, and he no longer has to buy vegetables and cook by himself, but he is still very uncomfortable for a while. He didn't know the surrounding environment of his new home. In his own words, he couldn't find it anywhere. To buy things, go to the bank, get a haircut, etc., we still want us to take him back to the original residential area. The people who used to come to chat with him seldom came. He lived with his grandson's family, and the grandson just had a child, so everyone consciously stopped disturbing him.
Xie Chensheng respects his teachers and respects his elders, remembers his contributions and achievements, and treats friends and younger generations with affection and righteousness. He said that he and Zheng Zhenduo's family get along like relatives. After Zheng Zhenduo's death, he often went to the house. Zheng Zhenduo's old mother, wife, and son were all sent away by him, and he arranged the funeral. He said that Wang Yeqiu did not give him a promotion, but he did a big thing for Wang Yeqiu. It was around 1980, when Wang Yeqiu was dismissed from the post of director of the Cultural Relics Bureau. There were rumors at home and abroad that Wang Yeqiu sent a large number of confiscated cultural relics to Kang Sheng during the "Cultural Revolution". Xie Chensheng found Wang Zhen and wrote to the central leaders twice. A letter, clarification of the facts, made Wang Yeqiu remorseful. The relevant commemorative activities of Zheng Zhenduo and Wang Yeqiu were organized by Xie Chensheng, who has been carrying on the legacy of these two pioneers of cultural relics protection in action and practice. Zhang Heng, the former deputy director of the Cultural Relics Department, was also a person Xie Chensheng admired. As early as when compiling and printing "The Collection of Famous Paintings of the Tang and Song Dynasties Collected by Yunhuizhai" in Shanghai, Xie Chensheng admired Zhang Heng's level of calligraphy and painting collection. Zhang Heng passed away early, and Xie Chensheng has been thinking about it for a long time. He wants to photocopy and publish Zhang Heng's unfinished calligraphy and painting descriptions of the past dynasties, "Notes on the Appreciation of Calligraphy and Paintings in Muyanzhai". Shen Zhu, the former deputy director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, was a good friend of Xie Chensheng who talked about everything. Every year he received new tea and good tea, he would send some to Shen Zhu. On the morning of farewell to old Xie Chensheng, Shen Zhu's wife Gao Yin called and said the agreement between old Xie Chensheng and Shen Zhu. When Zhang Zhongpei, the former director of the Palace Museum, was seriously ill, Xie Chensheng actively contacted the hospital and the doctor for him. When I heard the news of his death, I immediately asked Dai Zhigang and I to send flower baskets on our behalf. For Mr. Zhang's farewell ceremony, Xie Chensheng was old and many people advised him not to go, but he was not at ease. He said that firstly, he wanted to see if Zhang Zhongpei's funeral had been given due attention, and secondly, he was worried about Zhang Zhongpei's students. Su Bingqi, Zhang Zhongpei's mentor, clashed with his younger generation, and he was relieved after visiting there. I still remember that he told Su Bingqi's regional typology before leaving, and when he came back, he told how he liked Zhang Zhongpei and Yu Weichao and their subsequent contacts. Zhang Tunsheng, the former president of the China Cultural Relics Newspaper, once told me that he went to a small party organized by Huang Ti of the Cultural Relics Publishing House, and felt that Huang Ti also called Xie Chensheng "Xiao Xie" in person, but now everyone calls him "Xie Lao". ". I asked Xie Chen about his old age, but he didn't care. When Huang Ti died, he asked me to call Huang Ti's house, indicating that he couldn't come to offer condolences due to physical reasons, so he had to make a phone call instead. There is one more thing, Huang Qi, who settled in Europe, kept a set of "Ancient Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Pictures" with Xie Chensheng many years ago. Xie Chensheng always remembered it. He said that when he was in good health and spirit, Be sure to return this set of books to her. In the past two years, through contact, I finally sent this set of books back. Xie Chensheng has a very close relationship with his disciple Dan Qing. When the disciples come to Beijing, most of the first meals are eaten at home. The old man will go out early to buy ingredients and prepare meals with care. After all, he is old and can cook two or three dishes. Come on, it's not easy. I can often eat this meal. Xie Chensheng is very good at craftsmanship. His specialty dishes are borscht, potato and beef, crab roe and tofu. These dishes take time to prepare. Every time he chooses Do the same as a main course. He said that he learned his cooking skills from the imperial chef of the Forbidden City. When he first started working at the Cultural Relics Bureau, Mr. Zhang Heng and Fu Xinian's father, Fu Zhongmo, often took him to eat delicious food. They were rich at that time and often went to a People who have been chefs in the Forbidden City go to eat in the store. He thinks it is delicious, so he learns a few skills.

A group photo with his wife Wang Huizhen and friend Shen Zhu.

Huang Ti organized a small gathering, with Peng Qingyun, Jin Chongji, Xie Chensheng and Fu Xinian in the front row from left, Zhang Tunsheng and Huang Ti in the back row.

He loves this country immensely and loves the party. When he was young, he was deeply influenced by Ai Siqi's "Popular Philosophy" and so on. When he was in high school, he failed to go to Yan'an. He joined the Volunteer Army and went to North Korea for three years before he finally understood his desire to serve the country. His own affairs are rarely troublesome to the unit and the country. Many years ago, he bought a cemetery for himself and his wife, and did not want his funeral to cause trouble for the country. As long as he makes a phone call after retirement, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage will send a car for him. But he made it clear that it was the Cultural Relics Bureau's business, so he would ask for a car. When I was in my 90s, I went to the hospital to see a doctor. Sometimes I went there by bus. I fell several times on the way back and forth. After much persuasion, I stopped acting alone. Every time I go with him, he will invite him to eat delicious food. What I often eat is the braised pork opposite the Red Building of Peking University. It is not far from his designated hospital, Xiehe. You can also go to the retirement office in the Red Building to sit, chat, and learn about the current situation of some old comrades of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. His wife is ten years younger than him, and he is not good at cooking. He seldom cooks. Occasionally, he will heat up food, mix a small cold dish or something. . Sometimes when he is busy and can't take care of cooking, he will take his lunch box to buy food in a nearby small shop. The owners of several small shops near his home know him. He also fell on his way out to buy food. The media has posted photos of him with a Band-Aid or gauze on his head. Basically, it was caused by falling outside. So that every time I go out, someone follows me, so my wife can rest assured, and I am afraid that he will fall if no one follows. When someone he knew asked, he proudly said, "Look at my hard bones, I'll be fine after I fall!" Throughout his life he wrote numerous letters to successive leaders, but only one was about himself. Just when his cancer was developing so badly, there was a famous doctor he couldn't get in touch with, so he could only ask for help. He was very grateful for the approval of Premier Wen Jiabao.

In the autumn of 2021, disciple Dan Qing came to Beijing to celebrate his birthday.

In January 2020, at home with student Xiu Shuqing.

As he was familiar with Xie Chensheng's condition, he was already mentally prepared for his death. There have been many times before, the doctor told him to be ready to leave at any time, but also hopeful, because he has come from a critical condition many times before. In the first two notices of critical illness, his daughter was still shocked when she heard the doctor's words, but judging from his energy, it didn't look like he would leave at any time. Several times later, his daughter said that she heard the doctor's words, and the doctor explained to the family according to the worst situation. Our old man is tenacious and can survive. Sure enough, he survived several critical illnesses. He is very strong and never complains of pain in front of outsiders. In the past two years, his physical condition has not been very good. The cancer cells that had been contained in the previous years also continued to develop while he was weak. He often felt pain and asked him where it hurt. Sometimes I point here, sometimes I point there, sometimes I can't tell where it hurts, and now it's a relief to pass away.
The past came in one after another, and I burst into tears, so let's write it here first!
Dear grandpa, go all the way! May there be no sickness in heaven!
Xiu Shuqing May 8, 2022