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Special Scrolls: Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy

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What Makes Chinese Calligraphy An Art ?

Calligraphy is an ancient form of artistic lettering that started in China as early as the pre-Imperial period. Calligraphy is arguably one of the most important Chinese arts and, like most art forms in China (such as kung fu),

calligraphy was developed out of the basic need to write and record ideas,

first on rock and later on paper. And though it was a basic human skill, the Chinese also desired to make their writing and records beautiful, and so calligraphy was born.

Intro Picture Ink and Brushes courtesy of ronocdh CC License

Chinese Arts of Calligraphy

In the Mandarin language, the word for calligraphy is shu fa, which literally means, "book law", indicating that this delicate art form is the single and utmost form of preparing books: writing. In the Chinese way of thought, calligraphy and writing go hand in hand, to the point that it is all but impossible to write down the Chinese language, which is composed of thousands of pictographic characters, without understanding the basic principles of calligraphy and having some skill with the art.

Basic Tenets of Practicing Calligraphy:

1. Hand posture

2. Stroke order

3. Attention to detail

And all are absolutely imperative to write Chinese correctly, even in the absence of an artist's calligraphy pen.

Helpful Links:

Chinavoc: Calligraphy

Reverence

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Asianartmall: CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY

Chinese Calligrapher - SunXindeOAI courtesy of Wiki Commons CC License

Chinese Calligraphy Application Everywhere

html borders Spring Festival Couplets courtesy of Martin Lindstrom CC License

html images Fan Decoration: Everything Goes Well

html borders Five Virtues Scroll

html images Dragon & Phoenix

Chinese Symbol: Heart courtesy of peruisay CC License

Stone Pendant Set

Chinese Calligraphy Tools: The Four Treasures of Study

Traditionally, the art of Chinese calligraphy incorporate what were known as the

"Four Treasures of Study": brushes, ink, paper and inkstone.

Traditional brushes are made of bamboo wood and animal hair, though today, the brush may be replaced with a normal pen or pencil in everyday writing. The ink is made from soot that is bound into small sticks, which are rubbed into liquid using the inkstone.

WenfangSibao courtesy of Wiki Commons CC License

Classifications and Changes of Chinese Calligraphy

Several styles of writing can be distinguished, such as seal, official or clerical, running or semi-cursive, cursive and regular. Each style has its own specific features and purpose. There exist seven basic strokes, also known as the seven mysteries. The basic strokes consist of a dot, a horizontal line, a vertical line, a sweeping downward stroke, a sharp curve and a downward stroke.

Characteristics of Chinese calligraphy courtesy of Chinaorbit

Ancient prose from the Xunzi, in Seal Script
Seal Script
(Zhuan Script or Zhuan Shu): It can be divided into Big Seal Characters and Small Seal Characters. The former appeared in the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC-256 BC) and evolved from oracle bone inscriptions. The neat structure of oracle bone inscriptions laid the foundation for the form of modern Chinese characters. The latter is more simple in form and more standardized in structure than the former. Small Seal Characters, known as Qin Seal Characters, were collected, compiled and prescribed by Li Si after the unification of China by the Qin Empire. Seal Characters are very elegant in style and are widely favored by people today in the creation of calligraphy works.
Official Script, Tea & Zen Poem
Clerical Script
(Official Script or Li Shu): came in the wake of the xiaozhuan in the same short-lived Qin Dynasty (221 - 207 B. C.). This was because the xiaozhuan, though a simplified form of script, was still too complicated for the scribes in the various government offices who had to copy an increasing amount of documents. Cheng Miao, a prison warden, made a further simplification of the xiaozhuan, changing the curly strokes into straight and angular ones and thus making writing much easier. A further step away from the pictographs, it was named lishu because li in classical Chinese meant "clerk" or "scribe". Another version says that Cheng Miao, because of certain offence, became a prisoner and slave himself; as the ancients also called bound slaves "li", so the script was named lishu or the "script of a slave".
Kai Shu by Ouyang Xun
Regular Script
(Formal Script or Kai Shu): still in use today - and attributed to Wang Xizhi (303-361) and his followers, is even more regularized. Its spread was encouraged by Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang (926-933), who ordered the printing of the classics using new wooden blocks in Kaishu. Printing technologies here allowed shapes to stabilize. The Kaishu shape of characters 1000 years ago was mostly similar to that at the end of Imperial China.
Running Script by Song Dynasty Calligrapher Mifu
Running Script
(Semi-cursive Script or Xing Shu): is something between the regular and the cursive scripts. When carefully written with distinguishable strokes, the xingshu characters will be very close to the regular style; when swiftly executed, they will approach the caoshu or cursive hand. Chinese masters have always compared with vivid aptness the three styles of writing-kaishu, xingshu and caoshu-to people standing, walking and running.
The best example and model for xingshu, all Chinese calligraphers will agree, is the Inscription on Lanting Pavilion in the hand of Wang Xizhi (321-379) of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
Classical Poem in Cursive Script courtesy of Wiki Commons CC License
Cursive Script
(Grass Script or Cao Shu): is characterized by simplified and sketchy forms of characters. It was formed around the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-8 AD) and became prevalent in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). It has concise structures with borrowed components. Although it looks irregular, cursive hand has high artistic value beyond its practical worthiness.

Chinese Brush Writing Techniques

Each calligrapher has his or her own style, but all calligraphers must be trained in the techniques of calligraphy, which include the stroke order (the order in which the lines of each character must be painted), hand posture, speed and flourishes.

Calligrapher Instructor, Analyze, Character, Line of Order Calligraphy Instructor courtesy of ronocdh CC License

Chinese script is a primitive language that has by supreme conservatism survived into modern times. Each character is made up from one to a seventeen strokes, and these strokes must be executed in the fixed order. This fixed placement gives only tiny possibility for variation, but so acute is the Chinese perception that even subtle changes can distinguish one style from another.

Right sitting position ensures a straight writing. Sit comfortably with back straightened and feet apart in shoulder breadth. Firmly pinch brush shaft by thumb, index finger and middle finger, with ring finger and little finger reinforcing the hold from behind. Keep wrist and elbow suspended, and forearm parallel to the surface of desk. Write with manipulating the wrist and the strength of the body. It may need some years practice to be able to write steady strokes.

Brush Writing Techniques courtesy of rice-paper

How to Write Chinese Calligraphy ?

Watching a gifted calligrapher paint is a soothing experience that evokes the grace of ballet with the art of playing a musical instrument.

Rules for Appreciation and Evaluation

What is considered good calligraphy often varies depending on individual preferences. However, there are established traditional rules which cannot be violated. Violation of these rules will render a calligraphic work unable to be considered good calligraphy. Those who repeatedly violate these rules are not considered legitimate calligraphers. Among these rules are:

The characters must be written correctly.

The characters must be legible.

The characters must be concise.

The characters must fit their context.

The characters must be aesthetically pleasing.

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Do you have any questions about Chinese calligraphy or arts ?

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Wedding_Mom Aug 10, 2011 @ 10:03 pm | delete

These calligraphy are works of art. They said it takes years to master this, since it dedication and heaps amount of focus. really admirable. Wonderful lens!