In 1985 Tom and I met and purchased a Calligraphy piece from a polite, mild mannered artist by the name of Yip Man Kit at the top of Victoria Peak Mountain in Hong Kong for our then 5 year old son. I recently searched to find him in hopes that I could purchase another piece of art. To my happy surprise I located him working in Stanley Market in Hong Kong. Yes! I was able to order another piece from him. I am so anxious for my newest piece of calligraphy to arrive. It is not expensive but it is worth a million to me.
I did not know at the time that Master Yip Man Kit was a legend in China. His life story is truly inspiring and I am honored to have met him. Born in 1934 in Hong Kong, he moved to Beijing in the '50's in order to study at the Beijing School of Arts and the Guangzhou School of Music. Unfortunately the Chinese Revolution broke out during that time. He survived being tortured several times and left for dead. In 1980, after the end of the Revolution, he was sent back to Hong Kong. It was at that time, he began studying Calligraphy of the Tang Dynasty. It was this ancient art that inspired him to design the Rainbow Calligraphy.
He has turned down all offers for interviews by magazines and tv. He has been approached by several publishing companies wanting to publish books to introduce his life and works to the world All of these he refused in order to live a simple life of anonymity.
He would never remember me but he has made a lasting impression on this once tourist visiting his simple stall on the top of the mountain overlooking Kowloon Bay.
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