Page 214 - Christie's Fine Chinese Paintings Hong Kong Dec. 1 2015

LOTS 1362 — 1363
FORMERLY IN THE COLLECTION OF GENERAL TIAN ZHENNAN

Tian Zhennan (1889-1974) was a Nationalist general who participated in
the Second Sino-Japanese War. Also known as Zhufeng, he was born in
Henan Province and graduated from the Baoding Military Academy. He rose
through the ranks in the 1930s, eventually becoming the commander of the
30th Division in 1938. He play an important strategic role during the Battle
of Tai’erzhuang in the same year, for which he received the Order of Blue
Sky and White Sun. After the war, he moved to Taiwan and served on the
Legislative Yuan until his retirement.

The news about the Battle of Tai’erzhuang was a tremendous boost to China’s
morale. Liu Haisu created Lion and Boar (Lot 1363) as a symbol of the Chinese
people’s ability to overcome aggression. He had the painting sent to the 5th
Division, where it was presented to General Tian Zhennan. This painting of a
rarely seen subject-matter from Liu Haisu bears a short inscription: “The 27th
year of the Republic (1938),” as testimony to this historical event.

Following the Surrender of Japan in 1945, Tian Zhufeng’s former assistants
based in Beijing commissioned a painting by Qi Baishi (Lot 1362) on his
behalf. Qi inscribed ‘Outstanding’ in praise of the crucial role Tian played in
battles such as Tai’erzhuang.

Photograph of Tian Zhennan taken
during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

1362

206