To promote friendship and cultural exchange between China and Japan, the 70th Oriental Calligraphy Art Exhibition will feature a special event, the Himalaya: Rong Tie Artworks (Japan) Invitational Exhibition. This exhibition is hosted by the Oriental Calligraphy Art Association and co-hosted by Chinese Cultural Figures magazine, with support from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Japan, Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters, World News Alliance, Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society, Japan-China Communication Association (general corporation aggregate), Japan-China Friendship Association (public interest corporation aggregate), Tokyo Japan-China Friendship Association, Union of Chinese Residing in Japan, China Enterprises Association (Japan) (CEAJ), Association of World Artists (general corporation aggregate), Seika Corporation, Friends of the Earth (public interest consortium), etc. The Himalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitation (Japan) Exhibition will take place from December 4 to December 11 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

Wang Baosheng, Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Cultural Figures/Photo Report



Under the azure sky and white clouds, Mount Fuji stands majestic—an iconic symbol of Japanese culture and a witness to the history of Sino-Japanese cultural exchange. On December 4, 2024, a remarkable artistic exchange event will unfold: the Ximalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitational Exhibition in Japan, a special feature of the 70th Japanese Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition. This exhibition, hosted by the Japanese Calligraphy Art Association and co-organized by the Chinese Cultural Figures magazine, with support from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Japan and other institutions, marks a new chapter in Sino-Japanese cultural exchange



The 70th Toyo Calligraphy Art Exhibition – Ximalaya – Rong Tie Artworks (Japan) Invitation Exhibition to be Held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum



A Congratulatory Letter from Yukio Hatoyama, Former Prime Minister of Japan and Director of the East Asian Community Institute, for the 70th Japanese Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition - Ximalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitational Exhibition in Japan


Su Shishu, Member of the Standing Committee of the 11th and 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Deputy Director of the Calligraphy and Painting Studio of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, inscribes the title for the Ximalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitational Exhibition in Japan



The 70th Dongyang Book and Art Exhibition-Ximalaya-Rongtie Art Works (Japan) Invited guests



Rong Tie is a council member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Chinese Artists Association, and Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society, as well as a central committee member of the China Democratic League. He previously served as Deputy Director of the Department of Culture in the Tibet Autonomous Region



Rong Tie carves with the precision of a pen, transforming stone into a medium for the essence of Chinese culture and contemporary values. His works not only showcase the unique charm of seal art but also demonstrate a steadfast commitment to preserving and promoting traditional Chinese culture



Seal carving | 17cm × 138cm | 2024 | A Seal Carving Work by Rong Tie



Seal carving | 34cm × 138cm | 2022 | A Seal Carving Work by Rong Tie



Seal carving | 34cm × 138cm | 2018 | A Seal Carving Work by Rong Tie



Seal carving | 34cm × 138cm | 2018 | A Seal Carving Work by Rong Tie



Seal carving | 34cm × 138cm | 2024 | A Seal Carving Work by Rong Tie



Seal carving | 34cm × 138cm | 2020 | A Seal Carving Work by Rong Tie



the 70th Oriental Calligraphy Art Exhibition - Ximalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitation (Japan) Exhibition will take place from December 4 to December 11 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

Chinese Cultural Figures (Wang Baosheng, Editor-in-Chief) The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Cultural Exchange Agreement. To promote friendship and cultural exchange between China and Japan, the 70th Oriental Calligraphy Art Exhibition will feature a special event, the Himalaya: Rong Tie Artworks (Japan) Invitational Exhibition. This exhibition is hosted by the Oriental Calligraphy Art Association and co-hosted by Chinese Cultural Figures magazine, with support from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Japan, Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters, World News Alliance, Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society, Japan-China Communication Association (general corporation aggregate), Japan-China Friendship Association (public interest corporation aggregate), Tokyo Japan-China Friendship Association, Union of Chinese Residing in Japan, China Enterprises Association (Japan) (CEAJ), Association of World Artists (general corporation aggregate), Seika Corporation, Friends of the Earth (public interest consortium), etc. The Himalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitation (Japan) Exhibition will take place from December 4 to December 11 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.
Rong Tie, a distinguished member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Chinese Artists Association, and Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society, as well as Vice Dean of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, China Democratic League, will join artists from China, Japan, South Korea, and other East Asian countries for this cultural exchange event. Through the mediums of calligraphy and painting, the exhibition fosters mutual understanding and builds bridges between people.
The Himalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitation (Japan) Exhibition, as part of the 70th Oriental Calligraphy Art Exhibition, will showcase over 60 of Rong Tie's recent works in calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, and seal carving.
Rong Tie builds on the traditions of Qin and Han seals and breaks the norms of Ming and Qing styles. With a pioneering spirit, he carves with the precision of a pen, transforming stone into a medium for the essence of Chinese culture and contemporary values. His works not only showcase the unique charm of seal art but also demonstrate a steadfast commitment to preserving and promoting traditional Chinese culture.
Rong Tie’s seal carving works exude a refreshing and elegant charm, carving out a unique niche in the art of seal engraving. His seal script draws inspiration from inscriptions on Han dynasty mirrors and the calligraphy on Han dynasty bricks, blending seamlessly with natural aesthetics and embodying the robust spirit of bronze and stone inscriptions. Han Tianheng, a renowned artist and recipient of the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, as well as honorary president of the Chinese Seal Carving Institute of the Chinese National Academy of Arts and Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society, once praised Rong Tie’s work: "Rong Tie approaches seal carving with three principles: first, it must feel alive; second, it must carry a touch of roughness; and third, it must reflect his unique style. While refined and elegant seals have long been admired, such creations are easy to achieve and appeal to the masses. Rong Tie, however, pursues the difficult path—diverging from convention. He avoids pandering to popularity or succumbing to trends. His firm hand and gentle heart carve an individuality that stands apart, embodying an artistic integrity worthy of admiration."
In recent years, Rong Tie has seized the historic opportunity presented by the growing global attention on China’s development and the increasing desire to understand Chinese culture. Drawing on the heritage of centuries past and adapting to the changing times, he has distilled the cultural essence of China’s outstanding traditional culture that holds contemporary value and global significance. He has created a large body of exceptional seal carving works that highlight China’s aesthetic sensibilities, promote contemporary Chinese values, and reflect the shared values of all humanity, thus explaining China’s distinctive characteristics, spirit, and wisdom to the world.
The Himalayan - Rong Tie Art Invitation (Japan) Exhibition aims to showcase new creations and new developments in contemporary Chinese calligraphy, painting, and seal carving through artistic exchange and make a positive contribution to telling Chinese stories and promoting cultural exchange between China and Japan.
About Rong Tie
Rong Tie is a council member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Chinese Artists Association, and Xiling Seal Engravers’ Society, as well as a central committee member of the China Democratic League. He previously served as Deputy Director of the Department of Culture in the Tibet Autonomous Region and is currently the Artistic Director and Vice President of Kaiming Press, as well as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Kaiming Culture and Education Audio Visual Publishing House. He has represented China at the 10th and 11th National Congresses of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Additionally, Rong Tie holds numerous prestigious roles, including member of the Calligraphy Criticism and Cultural Communication Committee of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, Vice Chairman of the Cultural Committee of the China Democratic League, Vice President of the China National Academy of Ethnic Painting, Vice President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, China Democratic League, expert evaluator for the China National Arts Fund, expert for the Evaluation Committee of the National Art Museum of China, executive director of the China Collectors Association, president of the Seal Collection and Research Society, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Collectors Association, Level-1 Art Professional, expert on the Senior Professional Title Review Committee of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, special researcher at the Chinese National Academy of Arts, special appointed painter at Xinhua News Agency's Xinhua Painting and Calligraphy Academy, instructor for advanced studies in Calligraphy and Seal Carving at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, advisor to the Calligraphers Association of the Tibet Autonomous Region, visiting professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, visiting professor at Tibet University, professor at Beijing University of Financial Technology, visiting professor at Kede College of Capital Normal University, president of the Painting and Calligraphy Academy of China Wisdom Engineering Research Institute, and pioneer in the digitalization of Chinese calligraphy.
Rong Tie was born in the ancient city of Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. He began studying calligraphy at the age of six, followed by painting at fifteen, and seal carving at sixteen. He was mentored by renowned masters such as Lin Sanzhi and Sha Manweng. In late 2014, in his fifties, Rong Tie embarked on a heartfelt journey to Tibet as part of the seventh group of cultural cadre aid workers sent by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China. His experiences on the Tibetan Plateau enriched both his life and artistic style. In 2015, Rong Tie achieved a remarkable feat: at the Everest Base Camp, 5,200 meters above sea level, he held a 15-kilogram brush and, over six grueling hours, created a 105-meter-long scroll combining painting, Tibetan calligraphy, and seal carving. This monumental work, titled Depicting the World’s Summit: Blessings from the Sacred Land, was broadcast live globally and entered the Guinness World Records. Through this extraordinary effort, Rong Tie showcased the unique splendor of Tibet to the world.
Rong Tie has achieved remarkable success in calligraphy, painting, and seal carving. His paintings blend the delicate charm of Jiangnan’s water towns with the majestic grandeur of the Tibetan Plateau, showcasing both the traditional brushwork of Chinese literati and the visual language of contemporary aesthetics. His Tibetan landscape paintings deliver a powerful visual impact and merges the tangible physical world with the intangible spiritual realm, thus expanding the expressive scope of landscape art. Rong Tie’s calligraphy is bold and vigorous in structure, with diverse compositions and a distinctly modern style. His seal carvings are fresh and elegant, establishing a unique approach within the field. By seamlessly integrating painting, calligraphy, and seal carving, he has forged an innovative artistic path. His Ink Halo Series has been widely acclaimed for its originality and audience appeal.
Rong Tie’s works in painting, calligraphy, and seal carving are part of the collections of prestigious institutions, including Zhongnanhai, the Great Hall of the People, the National Art Museum of China, the Yanhuang Art Museum, the Chinese Seal Museum, and the Centre Pompidou in France.

(Editors: Zhang Yan and Liu Sheng)