The first explanation is that this expression means "there is specialization in the art", that is, people who are good at calligraphy are often not good at appreciation, while those who are good at appreciation often have no practical ability.
This kind of explanation is very understandable to modern people, because the status quo is like this, and everyone has the thinking of "specialization in the profession". In fact, this is an aesthetic thinking closer to the west. Most western aestheticians are philosophers. Today, the major of aesthetics in colleges and universities in China still belongs to two disciplines, one is the subordinate of philosophy.
Most western aestheticians have no practical experience in art, such as Nietzsche and Hegel. They observe the operation law of art with the concept of "jumping out of the circle" Because falling into artistic identity may lack a clear and cold perspective, "aesthetics" is a "bystander" mentality to discuss artistic laws.
According to this idea, it seems that a good reason can be given for "a good mirror doesn't write a book". This seems to "understand" why some calligraphy theorists and painting theorists have weak practicability but strong theoretical views. On the other hand, some painters are not good at words and have no considerable opinions, which seems to reflect the saying that "a good book is not a mirror".
Although it seems that laymen can see clearly without practice, avoiding the so-called "infatuation with authority", it is likely to be reduced to a kind of "layman's words", which is quite different from China's idea that art pays attention to practice.
Artists in China, on the other hand, pay attention to practice, thus realizing the laws of art. Only when you realize that it is really possible to be stubborn, do you think that what you realize is not necessarily the laws? Jumping out of the circle seems to see the "law" of non-interference, but it lacks recognition, cannot be true and delicate, and becomes a layman's word.
So the question is, how do you know art? Eliminate actual interference and see the law clearly. Is this called understanding art? Or is it called understanding art to participate in practical realization?
Mr. Xu discovered this problem and put forward the method of "pursuing experience" in the preface of China's Artistic Spirit. I have to say that this reflects Mr. Xu's insight and finds a balance between academics and practice. But even so, if you don't really know kung fu, Chasing Experience improves the academic value as much as possible, but it is only infinitely close after all.
Then Mrs. Wei's sentence turned to the second explanation: Zhao Huanguang in the Ming Dynasty talked about his own views in "Cold Light and Broom Talk": "In the past, people said that' good scholars don't learn' and' good scholars don't learn'. Once it doesn't arrive, it doesn't matter. It is unreasonable to say that you can't learn from others. If you don't learn, you can't write it. "
Zhao Huanguang's interpretation of this view involves a contextual issue. What is the context behind Mrs. Wei's statement? Is it the view of "one divides into two" which coincides with western aesthetics, or the view of "the unity of knowledge and action" in China's aesthetics?
"A good mirror doesn't read a book" is not to affirm this phenomenon, but to say that such a state is actually a lack of time. China's aesthetics is an attitude of unity of knowledge and action. If this person can only appreciate, he cannot be called a calligrapher.
On the other hand, if this person only knows the skills of writing, but lacks the cultural and aesthetic qualities behind it, it is disdainful and unreasonable to this phenomenon. In fact, if you can't learn, you can't write it.
In fact, this view really conforms to the characteristics of China's cultural aesthetics. Have you noticed that among the magnificent calligraphy theory in China, which theory is good and the level is low? In fact, China people's books are mostly about experiencing feelings, so the theory without practical ability is of no practical significance.
In China people's way of thinking, "book" and "mirror" have never been discussed separately, which is also a feature of China's cultural system. Western aesthetics, on the other hand, is the analysis and pursuit of the objective perspective of art appreciation. Therefore, in the cultural environment of China, Mrs Wei's words should tend to have a second meaning.
But it doesn't mean that this separation of tasting and practice didn't appear in ancient China, but this kind of thinking must not be the mainstream. Aside from cultural differences, the understanding of art should actually be integrated with the appreciation outside the circle and the feelings immersed in it. You should not only have an objective perspective that can jump out of the interference of practice, but also actively participate in practice.
Moreover, the ancient practitioners actually saw it this way, that is, they were not delusional because of their deep feelings, nor were they persistent because they were trapped in theory. Rationality and sensibility should be combined. Therefore, a true practitioner should not only have physical and mental consciousness, but also know how to deal with social laws, and at the same time know how to constantly jump out of introspection.
The combination of these three is called real understanding. And many people are just paranoid. Philosophy and art are actually two aspects of human cognition, each with its own emphasis and mutual integration.
The philosopher's expression is the result of his periodic thinking; An artist's expression is a recognized process in a certain period of time. If philosophers express vague thinking process, it is gossip; If the artist expresses a clear understanding of the result, he will fall behind.
Philosophy is a cold and angular mountain, constantly growing rationally and profoundly; Art is a rainbow in the sky. It appeared brilliantly and then suddenly disappeared.
The dim light at the foot of the mountain, don't mistake yourself for a rainbow;
Clear Wan Li sand, don't mistake yourself for a mountain.
The combination of the two is the real purport of China's cultural philosophy.