General Introduction
In China calligraphy occupies a distinguished position in
the field of traditional art. It is not only a means of communication, but also
a means of expressing a person's inner world in an aesthetic sense.
Ancient people
paid great attention to calligraphy. It was the essential whereby a candidate
could manifest his literary talent in the Imperial Examination, for it gave a
first impression to the examiners. Children of high officials had to learn and
try to write a good hand; even emperors themselves were good at calligraphy,
for example, the versatile Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911)
has left us many examples of his handwriting on steles in temples and palaces.
To practise calligraphy requires the basic tools of 'four treasures of
study' (writing brush, ink stick, paper, and ink slab) as well as much
concentration on guiding the soft writing brush charged with fluid ink, and
writing on the paper where the ink will diffuse quickly. Once the brush
movement hesitates, a black mark is created, so speed, strength and agility is
the essence of fine artwork. When writing, many calligraphers will forget all
worries and even themselves, combining all thoughts in the beauty of their art.
Thus it can be compared with Qigong, which also can mould and improve a
person's temper and promote well being.
Calligraphy, like a mirror, is a silent reflection of the
soul. It is believed to have verve, of optimism, moderateness, or pessimism. Su
Dongpo, one of the four litterateurs in the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), composed
many bold and unconstrained ci (a form of poetry that flourished in the Song
Dynasty), also could write handsome characters in good taste.
Today, although
various modern ways have been substituted for the original calligraphy,
especially which created with a writing brush, people still love the ancient
form and practise it untiringly. During the traditional festivals, propitious
couplets are always indispensable decorations each written in a beautiful
style.
History
Calligraphy has
endured for more than 2,000 years, and evolved into five main ways of writing
each with different techniques. Even today, these are still followed and
practiced often as a hobby.
Just as it is an art practiced in western cultures
so Chinese writing is a leading component in the four traditional arts, namely
lute-playing, chess, calligraphy and painting. With the unification of the
Chinese people by the Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC) the Prime Minister Li Si
actively promoted a unified form of writing based on inscriptions on bronze
wares of previous states. This was the first example– known as 'seal character'
(Zhuanshu). Calligraphers of seal character stress a slender font, even speed
and strength, and even thick lines and strokes. When seen as a whole, this is
quite round and contracted.
In the Eastern Han
Dynasty (25 - 220), people tended to simplify the seal character which had many
strokes and created the official script. The new calligraphy appeared to be
much neater and delicate, turning the round style into a flat one. When beginning
to write a horizontal line, one must let the brush go against the direction of
point like a silkworm, and concentrate on stretching steadily, then end up with
warp like a swallow's tail. This is one of the characteristics – 'silkworm's
head and swallow's tail'.
Just as the name
implies, the regular script features its regularity and varies from the flat
font to a square one. In Chinese it provides a model that can be followed by
calligraphy lovers. It has developed since the late Han Dynasty and is today's
most popular and influential writing style. The Sage of Calligraphy, Wang Xizhi
led the art of calligraphy to its summit. It is recorded that when a
carpenter was asked to engrave the wooden stele where there were characters
written by Wang Xizhi, he found the ink had filtered into the wood piece 'three
fen' deep (3.3cm or 1.3 inch)! This demonstrated the magnitude of his force and
people admired him all the more because of it. The period when regular script
thrived most was during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907), when Yan Zhenqing and Liu
Gongquan successively established schools of their own styles noted for their
strength and mellowness.
Cursive script has
more flexibility, for it only maintains the essence of each character and
expresses more personal exertion. Therefore its value lies in appreciation more
than practicality. While the running hand makes full use of connecting lines
between two strokes it can be regarded as the quickly-written form of regular
script. These two seem to be more unrestrained than the previous styles.
Four Treasures of the Study
Writing Brush
The earliest writing brush that has been found is a relic
of the Warring States Period (476 BC – 221 BC). From that time onwards, the
brush has evolved into many forms. The nib can be made from rabbit's hair,
wool, horsehair, weasel's hair, or bristles, and so on; while the shaft may be
made from bamboo, ivory, jade, crystal, gold, silver, porcelain, sandal, ox
horn, etc. It is important to see that there can be both soft and hard brushes
each producing their own particular styles.
The delicacy gives
literators and painters inspiration for creation, and has led to brush shafts
being decorated with artistic patterns. One prized example was an
ivory-weasel's hair writing brush. On the ivory shaft with the diameter of 0.8
cm, there carved eight figures of the immortals and pavilions concealed
seemingly in the clouds. With this in one's hand, the threads of writing would
hardly halt.
Ink Stick
A good ink stick should be ground so as to be refined
black with luster. With the invention of paper, they were improved accordingly.
Since the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220), ink sticks have been made from pine soot,
using other procedures that include mixing with glue, steaming and molding. In
ancient times, emperors such Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) had
paid great attention to the production of ink sticks and were expert in their
appreciation of quality inks.
Paper
Paper making is among the 'four great inventions' and
one of the great contributions that ancient Chinese people made to the world.
Before the
existence of paper, our ancestors utilized knots in cords to record events.
They then carved on bone, ivory, tortoise shell and bronzes. For very many
years they wrote on pieces of bamboo. There is a story that tells how Confucius
was such an avid and diligent reader that he would wear away the strips of
ox-leather used to bind the pages of bamboo books together. During the early
Han Dynasty wealthy people would write upon white silk but this was beyond the
reach of the majority as the cloth was so precious.
It was Cai Lun who made the valuable contribution and his
research gave rise to paper. Afterwards, many varieties of paper were produced
of different quality and usage. Today the Xuan paper originally made in Anhui
Province still shines with its charm.
Ink Slab
The ink slab is the
reputed head of the 'four treasures', for its sobriety and elegance has endured
the passage of time. Through ink slabs, people can sample the artistic charm of
sculpting and the ink stone's natural tints. Nearly all Chinese calligraphy
enthusiasts hold that the star of ink slab is the Duanyan, ink slab produced in
Duanzhou of Guangdong Province. It has its base a purple hue and enjoys the
poetic name 'purple clouds'. It was always a tribute to the royal families
during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907).
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