2025/12/24

衣若芬的2025年 I Lo-fen in 2025

 




衣若芬的2025 I Lo-fen in 2025

 

您好!我是衣若芬。2025年,您過得好嗎?

我的2025年,延續2024年的活力澎湃,向更寬廣的方向好奇發展。開始探索全球永續發展、數字傳媒、文化IP、新加坡和馬來西亞的聯合國世界文化遺產,在逐漸成熟的文圖學理論基礎上,開發新的模型架構。

今年出版了兩本書,上海人民出版社出版全新增訂版陪你去看蘇東坡》,增加了10篇最新的文章,包括我去年終於完成長久夙願,前往河南郟縣三蘇墳,參拜東坡先生和子由先生的感懷。以及我觀覽蘇東坡的好友畫家李公麟的傳世可能唯一真跡《五馬圖》的心情。幸運的是,今年4月有機會再訪海南儋州,踏查東坡先生登臨海南島的通潮閣遺址,以及修建的東坡先生故居桄榔庵紀念館。12月,第6次造訪東坡先生的故鄉四川眉山,在三蘇祠看到我的書中内容和我的談話兩度被引用呈現在展板上,十分榮幸!我的名字,在出版了幾本書,包括:《蘇軾題畫文學研究》《赤壁漫游與西園雅集─蘇軾研究論集》《書藝東坡》《陪你去看蘇東坡》(臺北版,北京版,上海版)《倍萬自愛:學著蘇東坡愛自己,享受快意人生》《自愛自在:蘇東坡的生活哲學《第一次遇見蘇東坡》,以及合著的《蘇軾研究史》等等之後,和東坡先生聯繫在一起了!

今年出版的第二本書,是對於故宮博物院百年風華的致敬。10年前,故宮博物院90周年時,我應邀在兩岸故宮參加研討會,在學刊上發表論文。本想今年百年大慶,或許會有盛會,便準備好了學術論文,靜待通知。結果,應邀投稿的文章被要求刪減,改投月刊。也沒有參與研討會。

臺北故宮博物院的百年特展主題之一是“西園雅集”,我是第一個研究寫作“西園雅集”中文書的作者。兩件難得向東京國立博物館借展的李公麟《五馬圖》和南宋李生《瀟湘臥圖》,剛好我也都研究論述過,或許能夠幫助觀衆瞭解展覽的精義。於是,重新整理舊作,收集了11篇論文和8篇散文,編輯出版《千年宋韻.世紀故宮:衣若芬詩畫文圖學論文集》電子書,并且在1010日故宮博物院百歲生日當晚舉行綫上直播發佈會。

因應讀者需求,我在1121《夢幻組合:西園雅集與李公麟》為題,以及1127日以《山水禪心:赤壁與瀟湘》為題,分別提供了兩場臺北故宮博物院的導覽。導覽報名在開放3天之内便額滿,參與導覽的文圖學會會員和團友們來自台灣各地、新加坡、香港、美國,個個準時守紀,在濃郁的文化藝術氛圍中聽我娓娓道來,真是高素質的同好!我將一小段導覽現場錄影分享在我的YouTube頻道,不到一個星期便已經超過1萬播放量,令我驚喜。

1127日下午,應臺北故宮博物院邀請,我主講了《千年宋韻.風月共食:跟著蘇軾和黃庭堅神遊書法文圖學之旅》。在開場30分鐘之前,便已經座無虛席,之後加了臨時座位,走道上也坐滿了觀衆。東坡先生和山谷先生仿佛俯視著我們,頷首含笑。

今年發表了10 研討會論文,演講和導覽總共30場。兩次飛香港;兩次飛杭州。珍惜和感恩每一個智識交會,啓發頓悟的瞬間!

中研院出版的《觀看.敘述.審美--唐宋題畫文學論集》,修訂補充,原訂今年在大陸更名為《大美之言--唐宋題畫文圖學》出版,推遲到明年。《千年宋韻.世紀故宮:衣若芬詩畫文圖學論文集》已經簽訂紙本書合同。《蘇軾題畫文學研究》絕版多年,多方垂詢,也將修訂重新出版。

一直心心念念希望親臨的重慶大足石刻、敦煌石窟,今年終於機緣完美,順利成行!由衷感謝促成機緣的四川美術學院、西北師範大學師長,以及旅途中關照我的好友們。這些點滴的回憶,是我人生中極爲可貴的寶藏。

許多預言都繪聲繪影警示未來兩年的“赤馬紅羊”,清掃無謂焦慮的言論時有所聞。自從去年開設“AIGC文圖學”課程,培養了第一批專業應用人工智能生成内容的學生,今年有3位主修AI的同學加入課程,不但讓我更清晰人工智能的“能”與“不能”,更使得我對於飛速研發的科技保持“與時俱進”、“維護人性”的平常心。如同我今年在《聯合早報》專欄的第一篇文章《2025小學生AI元年》,勢力洶洶的AI銳不可擋。明年在AIGC領域還有很多值得期待和慎思的層面。

送給大家我在日本石垣島的留戀風景。走著走著,小樹叢的空隙間露出了一灣碧海和白色的沙灘。你是解開繩索,乘小船破浪前行?還是坐在沙灘上看海吹風?又或者,你擔心那小樹叢下土溼路滑,就站在那有如心型的空隙外觀望?

迎接2026年,願你我都能夠在變動中尋得一方安生立命的空間,在不確定中靜心樂觀。我是衣若芬,祝福大家。

 

I Lo-fen’s 2025

Hello! I am I Lo-fen. How has your 2025 been?

My 2025 continues the vibrant momentum of 2024, moving forward with curiosity toward broader horizons. I have begun exploring global sustainable development, digital media, cultural IP, and UNESCO World Heritage sites in Singapore and Malaysia. Building on the increasingly mature theoretical foundation of Text and Image Studies, I am also developing new model frameworks.

This year, I published two books. The Shanghai People’s Publishing House released a newly expanded and revised edition of Accompanying You Through the Journey of Su Dongpo, which includes ten new essays. Among them are reflections on finally fulfilling a long-cherished wish last year—to travel to Jia County in Henan to visit the Tombs of the Three Sus and pay homage to Master Dongpo and Ziyou—as well as my feelings upon viewing what may be the only surviving authentic masterpiece, Five Horses, by Su Dongpo’s close friend, the painter Li Gonglin. I was also fortunate to revisit Danzhou in Hainan this April, to explore the site of Tongchao Pavilion where Dongpo once ascended after arriving on Hainan Island, as well as the newly built Tongpo’s Former Residence, the Areca Palm Hermitage Memorial Hall. In December, I made my sixth visit to Meishan, Sichuan—Dongpo’s hometown—and was deeply honored to see the content of my books and quotations from my talks cited twice on exhibition panels at the Three Su Shrine. After publishing several books—including Su Shi’s Painting Inscriptions: A Literary Study, Wandering at Red Cliff and the Elegant Gathering at Xiyuan, Book Art of Dongpo, multiple editions of Accompanying You Through the Journey of Su Dongpo (Taipei, Beijing, and Shanghai editions), Loving Yourself a Million Times, Self-Love and Freedom, The First Encounter with Su Dongpo, as well as the co-authored Research History of Su Shi—my name has now become closely associated with Master Dongpo.

The second book published this year is a tribute to the centennial splendor of the Palace Museum. Ten years ago, at the 90th anniversary of the Palace Museum, I was invited to participate in academic conferences at the Palace Museums on both sides of the Strait and published papers in scholarly journals. Anticipating grand commemorations for the centenary this year, I prepared new academic papers and waited quietly for an invitation. In the end, the invited submission was required to be shortened and redirected to a monthly journal, and I did not participate in a conference.

One of the themes of the National Palace Museum in Taipei’s centennial exhibition was “The Elegant Gathering at Xiyuan.” I am the first scholar to author a Chinese monograph on this subject. Two rare works on loan from the Tokyo National Museum—Li Gonglin’s Five Horses and Li Sheng’s Southern Song dynasty Reclining Journey through Xiao and Xiang Rivers—are also works I have studied and written about, which may help visitors better understand the essence of the exhibition. I therefore reorganized earlier writings, compiling eleven academic papers and eight essays into the e-book A Millennium of Song Elegance, A Century of the Palace Museum: Text and Image Studies in Poetry and Painting by I Lo-fen, and held an online live-streamed book launch on the evening of October 10, the Palace Museum’s 100th birthday.

In response to readers’ requests, I led two guided tours at the National Palace Museum in Taipei: “A Dreamlike Combination: The Elegant Gathering at Xiyuan and Li Gonglin” on November 21, and “Landscape and Zen Mind: Red Cliff and Xiao–Xiang” on November 27. Registration filled up within three days. Participants—members of the Text and Image Studies Society and tour groups—from across Taiwan, as well as Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States, all arrived punctually and listened attentively as I spoke in a rich cultural and artistic atmosphere. They were truly a high-caliber community of kindred spirits. I shared a short clip of the guided tour on my YouTube channel, and in less than a week it surpassed 10,000 views, to my delight.

On the afternoon of November 27, at the invitation of the National Palace Museum in Taipei, I delivered a lecture titled A Millennium of Song Elegance: Sharing Wind and Moon—A Calligraphic and Text-and-Image Journey with Su Shi and Huang Tingjian. Thirty minutes before the lecture began, the hall was already full; additional seating was added, and even the aisles were occupied. It felt as if Master Dongpo and Master Shangu were looking down upon us, nodding with gentle smiles.

This year, I presented ten conference papers and gave a total of thirty lectures and guided tours. I flew to Hong Kong twice and to Hangzhou twice. I cherish and am grateful for every moment of intellectual encounter and sudden enlightenment.

The Academia Sinica publication Seeing, Narrating, Aesthetics: Essays on Tang–Song Painting Inscriptions, revised and expanded, was originally scheduled to be published on the mainland this year under the new title The Aesthetic Power of Words: Text and Image Studies on Painting Inscriptions in the Tang and Song Dynasties, but has been postponed to next year. The print edition contract for A Millennium of Song Elegance, A Century of the Palace Museum has already been signed. Su Shi’s Painting Inscriptions: A Literary Study, long out of print and frequently inquired about, will also be revised and republished.

I had long hoped to visit the Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing and the Dunhuang Grottoes, and this year the timing was finally perfect. I am deeply grateful to the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Northwest Normal University, and the friends who cared for me along the journey. These fragments of memory are among the most precious treasures of my life.

Many vivid predictions have warned of the “Red Horse and Red Goat” of the coming two years, and voices urging the clearing away of unnecessary anxiety are often heard. Since launching the “Text and Image Studies on AIGC” course last year and training the first cohort of students in professional applications of AI-generated content, three students majoring in AI joined the course this year. This has helped me better understand both the capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence, and enabled me to maintain a calm mindset of “keeping pace with the times” while “safeguarding humanity” amid rapid technological development. As I wrote in my first Lianhe Zaobao column article of the year, 2025: The First Year of AI for Elementary School Students, the force of AI is unstoppable. There will be many aspects in the AIGC field next year that are worth both anticipation and careful reflection.

I would like to share with you a scene I cherish from Ishigaki Island in Japan. As I walked along, through a gap in a small grove of trees, a curve of turquoise sea and white sand suddenly appeared. Would you untie the ropes and set off in a small boat, cutting through the waves? Or sit on the beach, gazing at the sea and feeling the breeze? Or perhaps, worried that the ground beneath the grove is damp and slippery, you choose to stand outside that heart-shaped opening and look on from afar?

As we welcome 2026, may we all find a place to settle and stand firm amid change, and remain calm and optimistic in uncertainty.
I am I Lo-fen, and I send my blessings to you all.

 cover photo credit: Yulan Chou

2025/12/23

我在故宫当导览 I worked as a tour guide at the Palace Museum

 


“风生赤壁心无住,云过潇湘意自闲”。

用两句诗结束1127日我在台北故宫博物院的导览,掌声中我回望了李公麟《归去来辞图》卷首的陶渊明一眼,大功告成!

文图学会主办的两场导览,这一场的主题是《山水禅心:赤壁与潇湘》,和1121日的《梦幻组合:西园雅集与李公麟》,概括了百年院庆的《甲子万年》和《千年神遇—北宋西园雅集传奇》特展。

当初也曾经设想要将《皕宋—故宫宋版图书观止》特展加入,介绍富有历史意义的苏辙《古史》和苏轼的《苏文忠公奏议》。《古史》是1925年《故宫物品点查报告》登录的第一部宋版书;《苏文忠公奏议》则是举世罕见的残本,就在苏轼的老家四川眉山刊印。转来转去,考量了展场空间和出入动线,最后只得放弃。

精彩稀有的展品琳琅满目,在有限的时间里,除了解说赏析,还要贯串连结,归纳整理知识点,加上我的研究发现,提出我的“衣家之言”。我准备了分发给每一位导览团友文图学会的贴纸、纪念品、文字讲义,带了平板电脑,适时补充图像,显示展品没有打开的部分,比如李公麟《丽人行》图卷前面引首,张文渊的“丽人行”三个大字。或是比对相近的作品,比如《丽人行》和辽宁博物馆藏《摹张萱虢国夫人游春图》的类似形式。还要提点重要细节,经由放大画面,指出容易被忽略甚至看错的部分。

尽量周全,我提着两个大布袋,820分下出租车,站在故宫博物院地下一楼门口等着开门。9点半开始导览,我估算850分入场,先去寄存布袋,然后去一楼排队进展厅。门票已经上网买好了,我打开手机,滑出门票的二维码。可以有10分钟浏览一下苏轼的《寒食帖》,然后回地下一楼迎接团友们。

完美!

除了刚进展厅时差点儿被奔跑的观众撞到!原来台北也有“故宫跑”!之前北京故宫是“奔向《清明上河图》”,这一回是“奔向《黄州寒食帖》”。《寒食帖》在105室,有的人急冲冲三两步跳上往二楼的楼梯,被同行的人叫住,又连忙下楼。工作人员见状,赶紧制止他们,挥着手说:“小心!小心!不要跑!不要摔跤!”

我顾不得笑,走向排队的尾端。

“不能拍照!”“请不要拍照!”工作人员温柔劝阻,中文、英语、日语轮着说。

5分钟了,见队伍一直没有移动前进,我请工作人员指挥一下。

眼前終於出现乾隆皇帝的“雪堂余韵”题字,那金线描的海棠花,被火熏黑的印渍,我强忍住几乎夺眶而出的泪水,心里说着:“好久不见!”

匆匆向随行的学生讲述《寒食帖》的数则题跋,我调整好情绪,回到导览团体的集合处。来自台北、新竹、台中、香港、新加坡、美国的同好们,大家签名报到,领取资料和耳机。守时有礼,秩序井然。

我的导览用文图学方法,特色是强调将展品视为整体的“文本”(text,重视生产环境(时地人,因缘)、物质条件(笔墨纸绢)、流通传播(题写,改装,复制临摹)等面向。从文字和图像的互文,阐述发掘展品的历史意义和艺术价值。因此,不只是看创作的主体,还包括装裱、形制、印章、题跋。

“既然网上已经有高清的图像,为什么我们还要到现场亲眼观看?”

“既然已经有语音导览可以租借,为什么各位还要听我讲解?”

我说:因为,越是虚拟素材容易取得,实际的肉身体验越是珍贵。图录未必呈现得出展品的质感,比如黄庭坚《松风阁》诗卷的砑花罗纹纸,我请团友拿手机拍摄任何一个角落,放大观察。再凑近细看纸上吸墨不均匀的笔画,形成书法线条的随机效果。面对展品,直观的尺寸让我们明白视觉的冲击。更别说领会历经火患水灭的沧桑。

一百年前,在北京故宫刚刚开放,展览的宋徽宗《文会图》、郭熙《早春图》、武元直(当时著录为朱锐)《赤壁图》,今天我们都能再看到。我站在团友的身后,让他们隔着玻璃围观,耳机里传出我的声音。《寒食帖》的海棠依旧,我们是为文化续命的传灯人。

 

20251220日,新加坡《联合早报》“上善若水”专栏




2025/12/16

The last talk of Professor Kathleen Tomlonovic(唐凱琳)(字幕版) #蘇東坡 #蘇軾


The last talk of Professor Kathleen Tomlonovic(唐凱琳, 23 Jan. 1939-2 March 2019) on 30 September 2018 at San Su Ci, the hometown of Su Dongpo. 唐凱琳教授在四川眉山三蘇祠東坡像前的最後談話。衣若芬拍攝

2025/12/10

進入《谿山行旅圖》Travelers Among Mountains and Streams




2025年11月26日,台灣嘉義故宮南院拍攝 11月11日到12月28日展出,現藏故宮博物院最重要的三幅北宋山水畫鉅作范寬《谿山行旅圖》、郭熙《早春圖》、李唐《萬壑松風圖》 《千年宋韻.世紀故宮:衣若芬詩畫文圖學論文集》 訂購書Order book https://forms.gle/ZtWTauH66K32Nn926 Kindle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FRYSYPVN?...

2025/12/08

衣若芬故宮博物院現場導覽蘇東坡《赤壁賦》I Lo-fen comments Su Dongpo's "Ode to the Red Cliff"...


2025年11月21日,衣若芬故宮導覽《夢幻組合:西園雅集與李公麟》


参看
衣若芬《赤壁漫游與西園雅集》《暢敘幽情:文圖學詩畫四重奏》(西泠印社)
《千年宋韻.世紀故宮:衣若芬詩畫文圖學論文集》

訂購書Order book
https://forms.gle/ZtWTauH66K32Nn926
Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FRYSYPVN?...

2025/12/06

AIGC,万年护持 AIGC, Supported for Eternity

 



1010日“千年宋韵.世纪故宫”的线上新书发布分享会上,我用“ 百年守护.千年神遇.甲子万年”串起两岸故宫博物院百年大庆特展的主题。“百年守护”谈民国政变促使紫禁城转为人人得以进入的博物院;避乱战火中文物迁移;新世纪新生的故宫博物院新部门新气象。“千年神遇”介绍书中11篇学术论文、8篇散文、140幅高清图像的宋韵再生与诗画文图学。“甲子万年”则缅怀培育滋养我的师长,提出用AIGC(人工智能生成)技术延续文物生命和开创时代新意义。

一位听众问我:“如何运用AIGC工具,达到 ‘甲子万年’,让后世都能欣赏历史文物?”这个问题触动了我。它不仅关乎人工智能的技术层面,更是关于“人类文明如何与时间共存”的哲学思考。

“沉浸式体验” 的展览如今已经屡见不鲜。观众不再旁观展品,也被设计成进入展品,置身其间,共同参与展品独特意趣的完成过程。在人工智能技术还不发达时,ARAugmented Reality 增强现实)、VRVirtual Reality 虚拟现实)和MRMixed Reality 混合现实)可以用三维建模(3D modeling)、实时渲染(real-time rendering)、空间定位(spatial mapping)、感应追踪(motion / gesture tracking)等计算机图形学(Computer GraphicsCG)、传感器技术 和显示技术完成。有了AIGC,“感官与空间技术”的ARVRMR,结合“智能与内容技术”,观众的体验会更为流畅,互动性更强。

许多博物馆都提供AR眼镜或是扫描二维码呈现展品3D复原形态,观众一边看更详尽的展品细节,听音频解说,获取丰富的资讯内涵。我想,运用AI识别物体和实时追踪,用手机和感应手环,观众除了可以听语音讲解,还可以提问,和展品互动。

例如,当我们在展厅停驻于《文会图》前,ChatGPTAR系统便能即时生成一段讲解:“这是描绘北宋文人雅集的画作,你看垂柳依依,清风拂案……”我们可以继续发问——“这是谁画的?”、“画家想表达什么?”——甚至建模画中人物的“数字化身”,与我们回应对话,使我们仿佛参与了那场千年前的盛宴。

展览使用VR技术的例子,比如甫于2024年开放的杭州中国历代绘画大系典藏馆的“佛光朗照体验区,观众戴上VR显设备,可一秒魂穿”入1937年,和寻访山西五台山佛光寺的梁思成、林徽因同款视角,凝视古寺的千年时光。在虚拟空间中跃上房梁,近距离观察这座被誉为“中国古代建筑第一瑰宝”的唐代古建筑,感受文化的厚重与精湛工艺的震撼。

先进的MR技术让我们欣赏古画,学习历史知识,还可以动手玩游戏。像《丹青纪岁时—中国古画里的传统节日》,以春节、元宵、清明、端午、七夕、中秋、重阳七个传统节目为主轴,结合绘画图像制作。我体验的是七夕主题,戴上头显设备能看到《蚕织图》和《乞巧图》等画面,听见牛郎织女传说和古代七夕乞巧民俗介绍。接着动手从养蚕开始,依照指示,顺着虚拟场景徒手在空中采桑、取蚕、缫丝、纺织。活动结束之后还能看到同时参与者的计分,颇有竞争感。

如果继续开发AIGCARVRMR领域的多元应用,我们以后的观览沉浸式体验将会更多层次。从实体的五官五感经验;到AI辅助的智能层;到人机共构的AIGC创作层;再到交互新生,身心充盈的文化体验层。我们可以为了一睹文物原件而痴痴排队,无怨无悔;也可以冯虚御风,逍遥徜徉于元宇宙,万年护持。

 

2025126日,新加坡《联合早报》“上善若水”专栏

2025/11/23

进入《文会图》


 喝完那一小口微凉的茶沫,我心满意足地赶往下一个展厅。

终于,在研究和发表宋徽宗《文会图》二十年之后,以“沉浸式体验”(Immersive Experience),在杭州中国历代绘画大系典藏馆,亲身进入了《文会图》的空间。

以往隔着玻璃展柜观看展示品的方式,近年来增添了新的趣味,我们不只是“看”展品,而是身临其境地进入展览所营造的情境与氛围中,通过多种感官调动(视觉、听觉、触觉、嗅觉,互动行为),产生情感共鸣和深度参与,称为“沉浸式体验”。

最早的沉浸式体验来自视觉。这类展览往往利用大规模投影、环绕式屏幕和动态光影,让观众被图像包围。台北故宫博物院藏的北宋郭熙《早春图》,描绘万物生机蓬勃时节的大自然;通过科技设计和体感侦测,观众可以走进山雾缭绕、溪水潺潺的画境,伸开双臂,仿佛鸟儿展翅翱翔,飞到峰顶,旋转视角,发现不一样的风景。那一刻,《早春图》从“被观看”变为“被参与”,观众也超越画框,从“旁观者”变为“共创者”。

除了虚拟的绘画影像,更直观的方式,便是复制/还原画面为真实的场景,比如眼前的《文会图》。《文会图》描绘幽静的园林中垂柳依依,繁树掩映,几位士人围坐在铺满花果美馔的长案旁,愉悦谈笑,气氛雅逸从容。侍女与仆役穿梭其间,还有一位执拍板的男子似乎要开始余兴节目。此时酒宴将尽,画面前方正准备着点茶。

展场布置了三折屏风,中央悬挂《文会图》。屏风前偌大的长案,再现画中物品。观众如果坐在环绕长案的藤椅,便宛如扮演了画中人物。于是我随性坐下,拿起酒盏,朝旁边正在插花的汉服仕女致意。

声音,是沉浸式体验的第二层通道。音乐、环境音、甚至沉默,都能建构出空间的情绪。《文会图》的 一隅石桌上有香炉、书册和古琴,暗示即将的乐音;实景的《文会图》安排了仕女弹奏古筝,营造古典的历史氛围,吸引观众接近驻足。

如果说视觉与听觉构成了感官沉浸的前奏,那么触觉与嗅觉则让沉浸进入身体的深处。

在兰州敦煌艺术博物馆复制敦煌佛教洞窟外面,放了一块砂砾岩,看似不经意的装饰,其实是让观众可以触摸,感觉石头的质感。砂砾岩容易风化,试想如此肌理上图绘的壁画如何不易保存?

香港艺术馆《好物有型》展,观众点触屏幕回答气质测验问题,可以得知适合自己格调的专属香味,并且嗅闻香味的样品。4种个性类型呈现的4种艺术家风格,不但令观众理解,也随之趋于认同。

至于五官五感中的味觉在文物艺术展览时较为操作复杂。展览不是饮食售卖,只是摆放食物的话,观众的体会稍嫌单调。与其推出成品,不如表现过程,实景《文会图》设置了现场示范点茶,将以往像宋徽宗《大观茶论》记叙的内容,配合《文会图》的画面,具体展演。

这位点茶女士将白茶粉放进茶碗,注入70度以上的热水,然后拿茶筅反复环回击拂,《大观茶论》详细说明了7次注汤的步骤细节,逐渐搅打出乳白色的泡沫—--这就是苏东坡词里的“雪沫乳花浮午盏“啊!

现代人喜欢的咖啡拉花,一千年前的宋代人早就玩过了,而且不必依靠牛奶,仅仅将热水点在搅打好的茶泡沫,形成色差水纹;或是拿茶勺轻划,花鸟虫鱼、诗词文字,栩栩浮现,所谓的“注汤幻茶”、“分茶”、“茶百戏”、“水丹青”,真是巧思灵动。

悠扬的古筝乐曲声萦回着雅集的余韵,我抚触那仿汝窑的茶盏,想起当年在台北故宫博物院报告《文会图》,“师祖”方闻教授的赞赏和嘉勉:“没想到中文系出身的学者能够研究得这么透彻。”我后来告诉方教授,我是他得意弟子石守谦老师的学生,算是他的“再传弟子”了。他笑得合不拢嘴,频频点头。我研究《文会图》的文章名为“天祿千秋”—-感恩天赐的福禄,给予我们艺术审美沉浸至生命底层的喜悦。

 

20251122,新加坡《聯合早報》“上善若水”专栏

2025/11/16

AI是厨师,AIGC是菜肴 AI is the chef, AIGC is the dish

 


去年我写了AIGC(人工智能生成文本)文图学的书,开设AIGC文图学课程。一次,朋友介绍我说:“衣若芬是全球中文学界最懂AI的人。”我听了,连忙说:“哪里,哪里。不敢,不敢。”并不是谦虚,而是我懂得的不是研发AI,是如何利用AI工具生成文本,并且从文图学的观点分析和评估AI生成文本的优劣,进而赋予意义和价值。

很多人都混淆了AIAIGC。新闻报道说,台湾的人文学科学生选读AI课程的意愿不高。一些同学听了第一堂课,便纷纷打退堂鼓。一位在北京交换留学的同学和我分享大学为文科开设的AI课程,包括制作语料库、搭建大语言模型。同学说:“看了课表,不明白学了这些对我们有什么用?已经有了ChatGPT这种强大的大语言模型,我们何必还要自己搭建?”

是的,文科生和一般大众需要的AI素养和技术知识的确和专攻AI的训练不一样。如同我之前在书里谈过:我们不一定要看得懂乐谱、会弹奏乐器,只要懂得欣赏,并且感受音乐给予我们的心灵滋润和情绪抚慰。就像操作手机,我们是使用者,重要的是知道手机的功能。

再举一个日常生活的比喻。AI是厨师;AIGC是菜肴;数据是食材没有好的食材,再好的厨师也做不出美味的菜。算法模型是厨具——有了先进的厨具,厨师能更快、更高效地做菜。

想象我们走进餐厅,点了一盘东坡肉。香喷喷的东坡肉端上来,我们首先品尝的是菜,然后可能想到:“这家餐厅的厨师手艺真不错。”我们未必会烹饪,但是基本能够品尝得出菜肴酸甜苦辣的滋味,以及是否合于我们个人的胃口。如果还能够知道一些这道菜的历史背景,比如东坡肉和苏东坡的关系(虽然我考证出“苏东坡没有吃过东坡肉”),至少,围绕东坡肉的文化氛围会让我们再增添一些饮食的乐趣。

AI是整体包罗工具和技能的统合;AIGC是使用工具以后,发挥技能生成的产品,是AI的效益之一。前者是基底,后者是输出。媒体往往简单称呼,把AIGC也叫做AI,于是一旦AIGC的内容出错,便全盘否定AI的可信度,这实在“冤枉”了AI。客人吃到味道不佳的菜肴就骂厨师,但是厨师拿手的也许是别的料理。在意大利餐厅想点葱油饼,认为和披萨差不多,其实 同中有异呢。

为什么区别AIAIGC很重要?在学校里,可以明确针对不同专业需求的学生,设计适配的课程,培养相应的能力,将来学以致用。作为消费者,知道哪些应该提高警觉,例如AI的演算法向我们推送信息,根据的是我们在互联网平台留下的数据和习惯纪录,掌握我们的兴趣和交流网络,于是精准投放。如果这是网路商店,基于演算法生成的商品(AIGC)便可能激起我们的购买欲。

在医疗方面,AI已经可以辨识一些X光和CT扫描的图像,协助医生判断病情。目前我们还不能放心直接把治疗决策交给AI,某些所谓“AI医生”给的“诊断书”(AIGC)良窳不齐,只能视为建议参考,谨慎存疑为妙。

这么说来,好像AIGC很不靠谱,我们还学它干嘛?

我们吃了一次不合意的菜肴,顶多再不去那家餐厅。调教AI厨师学人类厨师,说不定会制造出随机创新的菜肴,给予我们意外的惊喜。我让ChatGPT帮我生成 “《南洋风华》迷你套餐”,它设计的是:主菜“班兰榴莲烤鸭卷”,饮品“香茅辣椒椰子冰沙”,你想试试吗?

 

2025118,新加坡《联合早报》“上善若水”专栏

2025/10/31

我和ChatGPT吵架!AGI來了嗎?I had a fight with ChatGPT! Is AGI here yet?


2025/10/25

东坡琴操图 Su Dongpo and Qincao Painting

 



在“翰墨因缘”展览大观近200年中国和新加坡的368幅绘画,琳琅满目,作品主要来自秋斋曾国和先生收藏。一幅任伯年(1840-1895)落款于 1892年的《东坡操琴图》尤其吸引我。

画面上方是一株高挺的松树,树干盘曲遒劲,枝叶以水墨描绘,浓淡相间,展现出松树坚韧不屈的生命力。背景的山石用淡墨皴擦,营造深远幽静的山林意境。画面的下方,苏东坡伏几与一位女性相对而坐,似在谈话。人物衣袍以淡赭、浅粉等色轻染,柔和地与墨色山石形成对比。

既然是“操琴”,而且画题的英文也是“Playing Qin”,那么,“琴”在哪里?

会不会是《东坡琴操图》?画的是苏东坡和杭州名妓琴操谈禅的故事。

扛着三大巨册,9公斤的图录回家,迫不及待再翻看这幅画的介绍,和展场看到的一样画题。查到2016年在香港展览的图录,可能从陈之初处购买时画题就是如此。

夏孙桐(1857-1942)的诗《为秦亮工题费晓楼画东坡参禅图卷》开篇叙述“画中东坡是主人,题诗意多在琴操”,可知这《东坡参禅图》画的就是苏东坡和琴操。清代沙馥(1831-1906)的《琴操参禅图》册页、徐操(1910–1970)的《琴操参禅图》立轴构图都是两人在树下谈话,和任伯年画的相近,不同的是:沙馥和徐操画的琴操屈身站立,态度恭谨,表现虚心问道。

苏东坡和琴操在谈什么呢?较早的纪录见于南宋吴曾《能改齋漫錄》,说能词善歌的琴操曾经改秦观的《滿庭芳》词韵,令苏东坡称道。有一天在西湖边,苏东坡和琴操开玩笑说:“我当长老,你来问话参禅。”

琴操便问:“什么是湖中景?”

东坡回答:“秋水共长天一色,落霞与孤鹜齐飞。” 用的是王勃《滕王閣序》的句子,描绘绚丽的傍晚水光风景。

琴操又问:“什么是景中人?”

东坡回答:“裙拖六幅湘江水,髻挽巫山一段云。” 出自唐代李群玉的《同郑相并歌姬小饮戏赠》,原诗作“鬓耸巫山一段云”。形容美人长长的裙裾像是漫漫的湘江水;高耸的发髻犹如挽着巫山的云。

琴操又问:“什么是人中意?”

东坡回答:“惜他杨学士, 憋杀鲍参军。”这两句话里讲到两个人,“鲍参军”是南朝宋的鲍照,杜甫《春日忆李白》赞美李白的诗“俊逸鲍参军”,说他有鲍照诗的清新洒脱之气。“杨学士”是谁呢?不知为何网上流传说指的是杨日严。杨日严曾经因为貪污被欧阳修弹劾,后来一直企图找机会报复。以苏东坡和欧阳修的关系,肯定不会欣赏杨日严;何况杨日严的名声地位哪里有资格和鲍照相提并论?我认为“杨学士”是指曾任崇文馆学士,初唐四杰之一的杨炯。“惜他杨学士, 憋杀鲍参军”是说才华令杨炯和鲍照都相形见绌。

苏东坡从美景、美人说到美才。 琴操最后问:“如此,究竟如何?”归根到底,这么些好事的结果会是怎么样呢?东坡用白居易《琵琶行》的诗句当头棒喝:“门前冷落车马稀,老大嫁作商人妇。”繁华落尽,你如同琵琶女,老了嫁给商人度过余生。

这,就是人生的结局?琴操听了,当下大悟,于是削发为尼。既然一切的本质是空,出家皈依佛门才能贯彻修行。

这个故事在明代流行,收在蒋一葵《尧山堂外纪》、田汝成《西湖游览志余》、梅鼎祚《青泥莲花记》之类的杂记和小说戏曲中。要注意明清以后的文献将问和答的角色对调,变成东坡问,琴操答,不符合禅宗参话头的形式了。

绘画的题目决定作品的意涵。《東坡操琴图》表现苏东坡的音乐素养;《东坡琴操图》叙说苏东坡点化琴操的传奇。两人从游戏似的“扮演”师生,谈湖中景、景中人、人中意,层层递进,到琴操悟空,真的看破红尘。我更为好奇的是:面对琴操“假戏真做”,苏东坡的反应,是惊讶?还是欣慰?

 

20251025,新加坡《联合早报》“上善若水”专栏


Su Dongpo and Qincao Painting
by I Lo-fen

In the exhibition “Affinity of Brush and Ink,” 368 paintings spanning nearly 200 years from China and Singapore were displayed, most from the collection of Mr. Khoo Seow Hwa of Chiu Zhai. Among them, one painting particularly caught my attention — Su Dongpo Playing Qin by Ren Bonian (1840–1895), inscribed in 1892.

At the top of the painting stands a tall pine tree with a twisting, vigorous trunk. The branches and leaves, rendered in ink with alternating light and dark tones, embody the tree’s resilient vitality. The background features softly inked rocks and hills, evoking a tranquil and distant mountain forest. Below, Su Dongpo sits across a low desk from a woman, seemingly in conversation. Their robes are tinted lightly with pale ochre and pink, harmoniously contrasting with the darker inked rocks.

Since the title says “Playing Qin,” where is the qin (zither)?
Could it be that the painting’s real subject is Su Dongpo and Qincao — depicting Su Dongpo’s conversation about Zen with the famous Hangzhou courtesan Qincao?

I carried home the three massive exhibition catalogues — nine kilograms in total — and eagerly flipped again to the painting’s description. The title matched exactly what I saw at the exhibition. Checking a 2016 Hong Kong exhibition catalogue, it appears the painting already bore this title when purchased, perhaps from the collector Chen Zhichu.

The Qing poet Xia Suntong (1857–1942), in his poem “Inscribed for Fei Xiaolou’s Painting of Su Dongpo’s Zen Dialogue,” began by saying: “In the painting, Su Dongpo is the master; the poetic idea lies mostly in Qincao.” From this, we know that the Su Dongpo’s Zen Dialogue painting depicts Su Dongpo and Qincao. Similar compositions appear in the Qing painter Sha Fu’s (1831–1906) Qincao’s Zen Dialogue and Xu Cao’s (1910–1970) hanging scroll of the same title, both showing the two conversing under a tree. Yet, in Sha and Xu’s versions, Qincao stands humbly before Su Dongpo, her posture expressing respect and the sincerity of a student seeking enlightenment.

So what were Su Dongpo and Qincao discussing?
The earliest record appears in Wu Zeng’s Random Jottings from the Studio of Reform (Nenggaizhai Manlu) of the Southern Song. It recounts that Qincao, skilled in lyrics and song, once altered the rhyme of Qin Guan’s Man Ting Fang to great acclaim from Su Dongpo. One day by West Lake, Dongpo jokingly said, “I shall be the abbot; you come to question and seek Zen.”

Qincao asked, “What is the scene within the lake?”
Dongpo replied, “The autumn waters share one hue with the endless sky; the setting sun and lone wild goose fly together.” — borrowing the famous line from Wang Bo’s Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng, describing a dazzling evening scene.

Qincao then asked, “What is the person within the scene?”
Dongpo replied, “Her skirt trails six folds of Xiang River water; her hair bun gathers a wisp of Wushan cloud.” — from Li Qinyu’s Tang poem Drinking Playfully with Courtesans alongside Minister Zheng, portraying the graceful beauty of a woman whose skirt flows like the Xiang River and hair rises like the clouds of Wushan.

Qincao asked again, “What is the essence within the person?”
Dongpo replied, “Pity Scholar Yang; he nearly stifled Officer Bao.” The “Officer Bao” here refers to Bao Zhao of the Southern Dynasties, admired by Du Fu in his poem Spring Thoughts of Li Bai for his elegant poetic style. But who was “Scholar Yang”? Some mistakenly identify him as Yang Riyian, who was impeached by Ouyang Xiu for corruption and later sought revenge. Given Su Dongpo’s deep respect for Ouyang Xiu, he certainly wouldn’t have praised Yang Riyian. Nor could that Yang’s reputation compare to Bao Zhao’s. I believe “Scholar Yang” refers instead to Yang Jiong, one of the Four Talents of the Early Tang and a Scholar of the Chongwen Institute. The phrase “Pity Scholar Yang; he nearly stifled Officer Bao” thus means that such extraordinary talent could outshine both Yang Jiong and Bao Zhao.

Su Dongpo’s answers moved from beautiful scenery, to beautiful people, to beautiful talent.
Finally, Qincao asked, “Then, in the end, what becomes of it all?”
Dongpo delivered a sobering reply, quoting Bai Juyi’s Song of the Pipa:

“Before your door the horses and carriages are few;
In your old age, you wed a merchant husband.”

When all the splendor fades, you will be like the pipa girl — aging, married to a merchant, living out the rest of your days.

So—is that the end of life’s story?
Upon hearing this, Qincao suddenly attained enlightenment, shaved her head, and became a nun. Since all is ultimately emptiness, she chose the Buddhist path to fulfill her awakening.

This story became popular in the Ming dynasty, appearing in miscellanies and fictional works such as Jiang Yikui’s Records Outside Yaoshan Hall, Tian Rucheng’s Supplementary Notes on West Lake Travels, and Mei Dingzuo’s Lotus of Green Mud. However, in later Ming and Qing retellings, the roles of questioner and responder were reversed — Su Dongpo asking, Qincao answering — which actually deviates from the traditional Zen dialogue format.

The title of a painting determines its meaning.
Su Dongpo Playing Qin highlights Su Dongpo’s musical refinement;
Su Dongpo and Qincao narrates a story of spiritual awakening.
What began as playful role-play between teacher and student — discussing the lake’s scenery, the person within it, and the essence within the person — evolved step by step into Qincao’s realization of emptiness, her renunciation of worldly life.

What fascinates me most is this:
When Qincao turned her “play” into genuine enlightenment, how did Su Dongpo respond?
With surprise — or with serenity?

Published in Lianhe Zaobao (Singapore), “Shang Shan Ruo Shui” column, October 25, 2025