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PREFACE
Featured Art Collections
It can be said that art collection often reflects a nation's success, and a collector's tenacity. In an era of peace and prosperity, art collection usually booms too. We see this throughout China's history, such as during the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
In fact, people have never stopped art collections, regardless of whether times were good or bad. Some keep their collections private; others display their collections to the public. But in prosperous eras, we see more collectors who willingly show their collections to the public, because the public of that era has more interest in seeing those collections.
We are at a beginning of another age of prosperity in China, evidenced by the current art collection boom. With the reappearance of so many precious historical arts all over the world, after so many wars and destructions of culture in Chinese history, this boom is comparable to the time of Qianlong during the Qing dynasty.
A collector needs to have the knowledge, means, time and effort to collect. But most importantly, they must have wisdom. The same is true in war. In 1934, three hundred thousand Red Army soldiers started the Long March to Yanan. Two years later, when they reached their destination, there were only 30,000 of them left; the survivors had been the ones with the most wisdom. In art collection, wisdom often means having a long-term perspective in regards to the art, over a short-term speculation of the market; when others stand on their toes to see further, the wise one makes the effort to walk up to a higher platform. Many people understand wisdom in theory, but often fail to exercise it in practice. We can never underestimate the temptation of an easier and faster result in our work or life. Wang Yanming (1472-1529), a philosopher of the Ming Dynasty, once stressed that not only must one be knowledgeable, but one must put also that knowledge into action.
Knowledge is useless without action. Action is about how to use the knowledge that can be acquired so easily in our time, thanks to the technology of the current information age. Like in all liberal art fields, the key to success is never the knowledge itself - it is the way knowledge helps us understand the world we live in that leads us to success.
Looking back on my own experiences, it has been more than three decades since I embarked on my journey through the world of art collection. When Guanfu museum was founded 15 years ago, it was difficult to find backers, and I alone struggled to start the museum; as an old Chinese proverb goes, "People with different interests cannot work for the same goal." I eventually began to gather friends, whose collective efforts have helped the museum reach where it is today. I can never appreciate them enough. Amongst my supporters is the proprietor of the Huitong Collection, whom I met 10 years ago. We discovered our common interest, and immediately began our lifelong friendship. He started to help Guanfu build its collections wholeheartedly in the museum's adolescence. With my careful research and guidance, he collected a great number of artworks acrossing many different categories over the past decade. His collections have enriched Guanfu's exhibition to its current state.
Participating in art collection testifies to the vitality of a culture. It is natural for one want to document his hard work, and leave behind a legacy for future generations. The proprietor of the Huitong Collection plans to compile and categorize part of his collections, to tell a tale of his own "Long March". Thanks to his efforts, I have been able to make my own contributions, and am proud to call part of the collection my own harvest as well. We invite the readers of these books to share the result of our efforts behind the success of these collections.
Ma Weidu
February 22, 2012
收藏对一个国家来说是国势，对一个人来说是坚持。每逢国泰民安，收藏则成燎原之势，历史上有此记录的北宋、南宋，明永宣、嘉万，清康雍干、同光中兴，还有民国等等时期，都有不凡的表现。或沉溺于藏之名山，孤芳自赏；或四海名扬，炫耀乡里。国势有所不同，多是小势借大势东风，亦有小势反大势之行的。只要某种条件成熟，收藏呈现燎原之势只需要有火种，有点燃火种引导者而已。
中国人一到衣食富足之际，收藏热即会风靡全国，是次收藏热全国百姓都能感受其热度。其实历史上也是这样，乾隆朝时比肩今日有过之而无不及，正因为如此，才让我们今天虽经历史浩劫仍有机会有东西让我们收藏。
落实到个体，收藏就是具体事宜，需要智慧，需要财力，需要时间，还需要努力。长征出发时三十万人，抵达延安时不足三万，损兵折将十之九强，都在途中。这还不算残酷，一场战役下来，全军覆没的历史上比比皆是。究其输赢大都在智而不在勇。
收藏同理，智能第一，其它眼力、机会、财力、时间都在第二。智者优于愚人仅在多一层思索，少一层投机。判断前景不在于抬头远眺，而在于登上一层楼。若登得高低头也能看清远方。道理虽简单，但未必每个人都懂得。即便懂得此理，也未必能坚持应用，所以阳明先生强调知行合一。
知是行之始，行是知之成。对于收藏，知行合一最能说明问题。这个知是道理，凡事道理最大；这个行是实践，没有践行都是空话。其实，收藏在今天最不重要的反到是专业，因为信息时代的全部价值在于信息的有效应用，而不在于全部掌握而不能用之。换言之，弄懂古董不如弄懂社会，掌握技巧不如掌握道理。
我入收藏之门逾三十年，做观复博物馆业已十五年了，光阴似箭，日月如梭。先是孤军奋战，后有同道加入，坎坷而行。古人云，道不同不相为谋。为文化吶喊，为文化积累，为文化传承，一人之力微渺，不敌众人拾柴。观复博物馆由小及大，羽翼渐丰，除去个人的努力，还有同道者的参与。我与汇通典藏主人相识十多年，脾气秉性相投，十年前正是博物馆的青春期，他欣然加入，在我精心挑选下购入文物，以充盈博物馆的展览，大部分藏品都经我手我眼，十年下来，蔚为大观。
有人加入文化前行队伍，说明文化的生命力。有了成果，谁都愿意著录留念。汇通典藏主人计划将之收藏汇集成册，分门别类，一来有丰收的喜悦，一来也算个人长征的总结。我作为历史的见证者，写下的以上文字，雪泥鸿爪，集腋成裘，将主人心路历程及成果纪录下来，对我也是一份收获。
是为序。
马未都
二〇一二年二月二十二日
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