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).