Wang Minde: Why is cursive writing the most difficult, from legal to impossible?

I have studied cursive script for more than 30 years, and now I deeply understand why the ancients said that cursive script is the most difficult. From my understanding, "cursive writing is the most difficult" has two levels: one is the technical level, and the other is the spiritual level.

The difficulty of technique mainly refers to the transformation from cursive copying to creation. To write a good cursive script, we must first solve the cursive script method, which is the basic kung fu. In addition to mastering cursive script, we should also find a classic calligraphy post or go deep into it to master cursive script. This process of copying cursive script is slightly different from other characters. The copying of cursive script has one more link than the original book, that is, how to master the continuous writing of stippling.

We often say that posts should be from form to spirit. How did this spirit come from? From my personal understanding, in the process of cursive writing, we must master the rhythm of movement. Only by grasping the internal rhythm of cursive writing can we grasp the "spirit" of the original post. Cursive script is a continuous change between single point painting and continuous point painting, and the change between single word and continuous writing group will produce rich rhythm.

For example, when we look at Huai Su's "Self-report Post", many strokes are completed in one stroke. This kind of continuous writing is not a simple brush stroke, but there are rich changes in the middle, especially at the junction of point and painting, which is very clear. Therefore, the copying of cursive script is equivalent to one more link. The copying of regular script, seal script and official script is based on a single stippling and completed in one stroke, while the copying of cursive script should not only master the turning and pressing of a single stroke, but also master the linking between stippling and the rhythm conversion in linking.

We all learn calligraphy from seal script, official script and regular script. Before entering the cursive script, we have formed the habit of writing and breathing with the rhythm of one stroke and one stroke, so it is very difficult to break this habit and enter the rich and changeable writing rhythm of the cursive script.

So the ancients talked about cursive script and repeatedly emphasized the word "good at". This "proficiency" requires not only proficiency in cursive memory, but also proficiency in cursive rhythm, thus forming muscle memory in the hand. Therefore, from the memory of cursive writing, to the training of stippling, to the training of continuous writing of stippling and word groups, to the control of rhythm and emotion in cursive writing, this process is completely different from other calligraphy creations. Therefore, from a technical point of view, cursive script is more difficult than other characters.

Another level is the spiritual level. This mental difficulty is difficult to express in words. Simply put, it is the change from "having the law" to "not being able to". The highest standard of cursive techniques is proficiency, and the "mental method" on the spiritual level should forget all techniques and achieve "forgetting heart and hand". For example, Huai Su, after long-term training, has achieved proficiency in techniques, so he should forget about "techniques" and change from "having laws" to "not being able to". Only when he completely enters the realm of "no" can he enter the realm of freedom of emotional expression.

Art is ultimately about expressing emotions. In the process of expressing emotions in cursive script, if you are bound by laws everywhere, it will be difficult for you to enter the free expression of emotions. Only by forgetting the dharma and reaching your own desires without crossing the line can you enter the highest realm of cursive script. No matter how complicated the technical level is, there are rules to follow, but "forgetting the law" is not a technical problem, and it is difficult to put it clearly in words. Huang Tingjian said that Zhang Xu and Huai Su were "drunkards' sake". My personal understanding is that Zhang Xu and Huai Su must drink before they do grass, and it is with the help of alcohol that they reach the state of "ecstasy" and "powerlessness".

I feel that there are only a handful of people who have reached this level in history. Genius calligraphers like Huang Tingjian and Wang Duo all stayed at the level of law and did not enter the selfless realm of "impossible". In history, only Wang Xianzhi, Zhang Xu and Huai Su have entered the realm of not crossing the border at will, which is too difficult.

So I think the difficulty of cursive writing is actually two levels. The first level is technical difficulty. If the difficulty of cursive techniques can be achieved through training, the second level is the great realm of life. How to achieve this state? This is beyond words.