Introduction to calligraphy in song dynasty

Throughout the Song Dynasty calligraphy, the trend of respecting meaning is its distinctive characteristics of the times. Song Shu did not simply deny the Tang people, nor did it simply return to the Jin people. Zen Buddhism's "Heart is Buddha" and "Heart is Dharma" influenced the calligraphy concept of Song people, and the addition of poets and poets injected lyrical meaning into calligraphy. On the premise of emphasizing interest, calligraphers in Song Dynasty paid attention to self-cultivation, with high chest, extensive reading and wide knowledge, and their skills in poetry, music and fu were not as good as those of their predecessors.

Historical background:

On the occasion of the decline of the later Zhou Dynasty, Song Taizu and Zhao Kuangyin launched a mutiny in Chen Qiao, established the Zhao and Song Dynasties, and ended the chaotic situation of the Five Dynasties and Ten Countries for half a century. The country is unified. From 960 to 1279, calligraphy developed slowly for more than 300 years. , Song Taizong people, pay attention to calligraphy, bought Mo Bao, a famous minister of the ancient emperor Wang, and ordered to copy the banned books, a total of ten volumes. This is the post of Chunhua Pavilion. "Every minister who goes to the second palace will get a gift." Half of the posts are the works of "Two Kings". Therefore, calligraphy in the early Song Dynasty belonged to the "two kings". Since then, Jiang Tie and Tan Tie have been reprinted from Chunhua Pavilion Iron. The difference between this engraving and the original will become bigger and bigger. Therefore, the same clan is subordinate to the king, and the Song people are far less than the Tang people. Therefore, some critics believe that when calligraphy is popular, it will decline. This is also one of the reasons for the depression of calligraphy in Song Dynasty. Secondly, as Mi Fei pointed out in the Book History, "keeping pace with the times and attaching importance to books" also led to the decline of calligraphy in the Song Dynasty. Mi Fei said: "Li Zongkai has been writing books for a long time, and all the scholars have learned from his books. Fat and ordinary. In order to vote for it, use it to get the title. Since then, it has only become fashionable and expensive. " After the Song Dynasty crossed the south, for example, the book Tree Algae said: "Emperor Gaozong first learned yellow characters, and the world suddenly learned yellow characters;" After the word rice, the world suddenly learned the word rice; ..... build a small art and advocate it from top to bottom, which is so popular. " In this atmosphere, calligraphers can inherit according to their own understanding of calligraphy art, and there is not much innovation. The second reason why calligraphy was not very prosperous in Song Dynasty. In a word, the popularity of calligraphy and the change of emperors' likes and dislikes and the calligraphy style of powerful ministers affected and restricted the development of calligraphy in Song Dynasty.

Its famous representative calligraphers are Cai Xiang, Su Shi, Huang Tingjian and Mi Fei. Outside the four schools, harmony is unique and can also be called Tao.