The constant erosion of the long river of history has made many calligraphy works become classics that are difficult to copy and surpass. What is difficult for them to copy and surpass is that the creators forget their roots and express their feelings when creating, which is the natural expression of their true nature. It is precisely because the creator didn't want to express anything subjectively that the created works show an accidental stream of consciousness in the subconscious or subconscious, thus making the artistic attributes of the works reach the extreme. This is also determined by the special artistic attributes that distinguish calligraphy from other arts. Of course, the creator's unique artistic personality, profound knowledge and superb performance skills are necessary prerequisites.
Over the years, with the accumulation of information and life, I have a little understanding of calligraphy and seal cutting: the principle of calligraphy is the same as others, the principle of colleagues, the principle of physics ..., which also makes me deliberately exclude the interference of external factors in writing and seal cutting. I once wrote two sentences in this state: I want to choose a few poems from the "300 Tang Poems" on the case and write them by hand. There are no rules in my heart, and my mentality is quite relaxed. I will read it carefully after writing it, and I will have different attitudes and interests. But when you are interested in finding this attitude and interest, where can you find it? It suddenly dawned on me that this kind of attitude and interest could not be found at all, but a natural release of artistic complex inadvertently by thought.
I have no objection to inheriting tradition. But I think inheriting tradition means developing tradition. Calligraphy, as an art, can be separated from language writing, because the creators of calligraphy embody a unique personality in their works, which may be the true meaning of words. Therefore, I think that inheriting tradition should be an all-round study and understanding of classic works and their authors, which naturally includes unremitting exploration and pursuit of their excellent techniques and innovative spirit, so as to finally bring their own creation into a new realm and realize the publicity of artistic individuality. Otherwise, tradition will become a shackle that binds modern people to create and innovate, and lose the positive significance of inheritance on the artistic level.
I don't know whether the works included in this booklet can reflect their true temperament or true temperament, and I don't know how much I understand the artistic attributes of calligraphy, but they are really created by me in a relatively free and relaxed state of mind, and I don't want to force anything to be expressed. If we want to measure them by a certain "regular" scale, they have either crossed the "thunder pool" or can't see the shadow of the "thunder pool" at all. But I want to make them public, please express your opinions.
(This article is the preface of Zhang Mingjun Calligraphy and Seal Cutting Collection. )