China's calligraphy has been revived for nearly 3 years. As one of the four styles of calligraphy, regular script has many important calligraphy functions, such as "rightness, calmness, integrity and high skill", but it has been neglected by various calligraphy exhibitions and is getting more and more boring. Compared with the development of cursive script, it is far behind. Especially in recent years, there are fewer and fewer regular script works in the "National Exhibition" (full name: National Exhibition of Calligraphy and Seal Cutting Works), which represents the highest level of contemporary calligraphy and seal cutting in China. Even if it enters the exhibition, it is mainly in small letters, and middle letters and big letters are hardly seen in the "national exhibition".
In my opinion, the main reasons are as follows:
First, the current calligraphy circle unilaterally emphasizes the technical function of regular script and ignores its aesthetic humanistic spirit. Just regard regular script as the technical basis of other scripts. Many people have written regular script for a period of time, and since they think they have mastered the skills, they turn to cursive script. Especially when teachers teach calligraphy, they all use regular script as the technical basis to train students, which is widespread.
Second, eager for quick success and instant benefit, unable to bear the loneliness of writing regular script. Zhang Huaiguan in the Tang Dynasty said: "True calligraphy (that is, regular script) is like standing, running script is like walking, and cursive script is like walking." A word "Li" is very particular, standing is standing, "Golden Rooster Independence" is also standing, and "One Finger Zen" is also standing, but the difficulty is quite different. Many people are eager to enter the exhibition, become famous and make profits, and can't stand the bitter silence of "sitting on the bench for ten years". It may be more difficult to write meaning in regular script than in cursive script. Because when writing regular script, you have to calm down, and you have to write that calm, quiet and serene. Without determination, it's really hard to grasp. Just as Kang Youwei said: "I call calligraphy the same as Buddhism. It begins with precepts, is good at determining wisdom, and is proved by the source of the heart, and is better than enlightenment. To the extreme, it is not a word of mouth."
Third, lack of confidence in the innovation and development of regular script. There is a view that regular script reached its peak in the Tang Dynasty and could not be developed any more. This view hinders the pace of exploration and innovation of regular script. In fact, art is endless. At the beginning of the last century, a generation of calligraphy master Master Hongyi appeared, and he was famous for his unique regular script.
fourthly, the present exhibition hall environment requires higher regular script. The exhibition hall now has a big scene. The regular script strokes are very particular, and it is not allowed to be a little sloppy, and it is too big to write. First, it is very difficult, and second, it is not flattering. It is easy to see good or bad. At present, the regular script submitted is generally in small letters, written in six feet and eight feet. The words are dense and fuzzy from a distance, which has lost the aesthetic function of communication.
Fifth, professional calligraphy institutions and exhibition judges have not paid enough attention to and advocated regular script, and even have strict requirements on regular script. Especially for Tang Jie, who contributed the manuscript, he was too picky. For a long time, people were afraid to submit manuscripts in regular script. However, the advocacy, excavation and research of regular script by professional institutions are relatively weak, and the reasons for the boring regular script have not been seriously analyzed, let alone the supporting countermeasures.
Sixthly, it can't keep pace with the rapid transformation of modern regular script from practicality to artistry. With the demise of the imperial examination system, the popularity of pens, especially the wide application of computers, the practicality of regular script has almost disappeared. On the contrary, its artistry is more strongly highlighted, especially in the noisy years when people are restless and pursue material greed for fame and fortune, yearning for a calm, quiet and harmonious spiritual home and comforting tired body and mind, and the artistic function of regular script is more obvious. Because regular script is "auspicious and quiet" (in Liu Xizai), like an old monk knocking on a wooden fish, it expresses a deep understanding of life in a slow rhythm. This is by no means rigidly fixed in a technical mode, so it puts forward a higher demand for humanistic spirit for writers.
"National Exhibition" has a powerful guiding role for the public. The lack of regular script in the exhibition has objectively aggravated people's neglect and misunderstanding of regular script. Many students and teachers, in particular, lack basic skills in writing regular script. At present, Chinese calligraphy education has been regarded as an important measure to "promote traditional culture and strengthen its protection and education". Therefore, it is reasonable to advocate attaching importance to regular script, writing more regular script and exhibiting more regular script. Recently, Shanghai held the Invitation Exhibition of Shanghai Regular Script, which is the first special exhibition of regular script held in Shanghai since the new century. Regardless of the level of the exhibitors, it at least sends a signal to the society that regular script should gain its due position in the field of calligraphy today.