As a calligraphy novice, I am not qualified to write this article, so I only record some of my experiences. I hope that students who do not know calligraphy can quickly and easily become interested in calligraphy:)
PS: This is a serious article. . . . . .
Our country is a country with a slightly longer history. Even though there have been many cultural catastrophes, some products have been left behind more or less, which are rooted in people's thoughts and behaviors. This is the root. Calligraphy is also in this category.
Calligraphy can be roughly divided into oracle bones (Shang and Zhou Dynasties), seal script (Qin), official script (between Qin and Han Dynasties), Wei stele (Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties), regular script (beginning in the late Han Dynasty and flourishing in the Tang Dynasty), running script ( Wang Xizhi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty) and cursive script (formed in the Han Dynasty). . . . . . Each calligraphy style will have its own characteristics and rules, which are laws and regulations.
We went to the Academy Gate and saw a lot of works. At first glance, they seemed pretty good. The posters were quite similar, and the creations seemed to be the same. However, upon closer inspection, we always felt that there was something missing in their works. Order something so that it is just a formality and loses its spirit. Therefore, many people comment that most of the masters in the academy are just calligraphers. (I am giving a very objective example of the opinions of people in the industry on the works of Academy Gate)
In regular script, Ouyang Xun, Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan and other great writers of the Tang Dynasty are represented. Among them, Ouyang Xun's "Jiucheng Palace" is the most praised by the world.
But there are also many people who would say that European style is too rigid, one stroke after another, one stroke at a time, no relaxation, and lacks character. But in fact, Teacher Ouyang Xun rigorously summarized the official script, re-standardized the details, and created a style of writing that is square and can be found in the squareness. The arrangement of his calligraphy and painting is compact and well-proportioned, the intervals are broad and steady, and the rules are strict. Every stroke of his strokes has become a model for future generations. Therefore, regular script and European script are the most regulated. It’s definitely possible to get started (but it’s definitely difficult to write well). Then it will be easier to develop official script, Wei stele, and running script.
This does not mean that you must start with Ouyang Xun. Starting from any kind of regular script and persisting are the beginning. It just depends on which one you like. I think European style is both strong and soft, very beautiful and rhythmic.
Practicing calligraphy does not mean that you need to be able to master various calligraphy styles. Many masters of calligraphy only aim to write 1 or 2 copybooks in this lifetime.
A more taboo approach is to use European style today, Liu style tomorrow, and Lanting preface the day after tomorrow. The result of this is that the strokes and structure of the written font are easily mixed, and the final result is different. Therefore, it is necessary to write in European style, in European style, every stroke. Writing Liu style is Liu style, and there is absolutely no shadow of other fonts. When you can make a copybook look exactly the same, you can have your own style based on it. From ancient times to the present, the ancients have written all styles to perfection and perfection. In such a big environment, people today should not casually say that they can create. (If you are speculating on calligraphy and painting, it belongs to another circle, and does not belong to the circle of serious writers)
If you have chosen a copybook, then start, and then stick to it. It is taboo to fish for two days for three days. Posting on the Internet means writing every day, no matter how much time you have or how little time you have, writing ten words is ten words. Then keep writing this copybook for at least 2 years, and then start the next one according to the situation, but it is only an interlude, the main thing is to use the first one as the theme of the whole life.
In addition, if it is a post you don’t like, then don’t touch it. Maybe you don’t have enough aesthetics and understanding, and touching it is a waste of time.
Must post! Lingu people's post. In calligraphy, the ancients are your best teachers, there is no doubt about this. Because of these calligraphy styles, even if future generations have their own styles and creations, they are based on tens of thousands of ancient copybooks. If you step beyond the ancients, you will easily lose the foundation. The foundation determines your future, Master No matter how powerful he is, the master's master is still an ancient person, so why not go to the ancient people in a down-to-earth manner. If you expand in this direction, you may surpass your master.
This does not mean that it must be the case, but I still think that learning calligraphy is a serious matter:) After all, Teacher Ouyang Xun has been a teacher for more than 1,500 years. . . . . .
First let’s look at the structure. In fact, not only European fonts, but basically all fonts have this common structure in structure, sparseness and density: sparseness can make a difference, but airtightness is the same. (This will be more obvious in running script)
It means that in the structure of the characters, some places are very compact, and some places are very loose. When combined in this way, it embodies the middle palace, and the words can have spirit.
Then, Oudi is very rigorous in every stroke, not casual at all. For example, when writing vertically, it must be thinnest in the middle, thick at both ends, and close the pen very steadily. To give a more tacky example, it’s like a girl’s dress. Without a belt, it always feels like pajamas. If you take off a belt, you will immediately feel energetic.
For example, put away the pen. In European style, every stroke is really very meticulous, and there is a finishing touch, so it is absolutely not casual.
For example, comparison. Just like the basic principles of design, in fact, they have been used properly in calligraphy for thousands of years. Just like some strokes are thin, some strokes must be thick.
Let’s look at Tian Yingzhang again (I am giving a very objective example of people in the industry’s views on Teacher Tian)
People of our generation will be more familiar with Tian Yingzhang. Starting in elementary school, everyone has a Honda copybook. Take "Jiucheng Palace" as an example. Teacher Tian has summarized the characteristics of European fonts to a great extent, and organized and standardized them himself. His characters will feel neat at first glance, but if you look carefully, he Many of the writing techniques that should have been highlighted have been weakened and lost their spirit, leading to scale.
Because the original stele will be old and the rubbings will inevitably be damaged, I will give a physical example to illustrate why Tian’s font is not recommended.
In the European style, the more representative strokes are the "wind" Ge Gou, which is the most difficult to write, but the most elegant strokes. When Teacher Tian was processing, the curvature, hooking and closing of the strokes were relatively consistent, which caused the whole word to lose its breath all of a sudden. Then read Teacher Tian’s words throughout the article. . . . Really exactly the same. . . .
Therefore, if the masters of the academy are calligraphers, then Teacher Tian is indeed a high-level calligrapher (disciples of the Tian family, please compare carefully). His fame is actually based on a relatively favorable historical background, rather than relying on the font itself. Even many insiders do not recognize Teacher Tian’s calligraphy.
Calligraphy learning is a very long process. You may have to work hard for a long time before you see some results. It is definitely not a matter of quick success or quick success, nor is it a matter of imitating cats and tigers. It should be a matter based on Things to understand. Of course, at the very beginning, we start with the configuration, which may be imminent (pre-post), but the ultimate goal is to understand why the word is written like this. Why is it so sparse here? Is it so dense there? Why is that sum so long? When you see exactly the same word, you may find the feeling and thoughts of the ancients when they wrote this word.
Just like Chinese medicine, also like ikebana, techniques, prescriptions, principles and Tao. At the technical level, seriousness, steadfastness, and hard work are definitely possible, but at the Tao level, it must be a comprehensive factor. I met a master. I had never written well for 20 years before, until I became a book boy with a master. I started by serving tea and water, washing and cooking, and then went to the temple for 2 years. After I came back, it was completely different.
If one were to guide the technique from the Dao level, it would be very fast and powerful. For example, there are tens of millions of ways to treat colds, including moxibustion, various combinations of traditional Chinese medicine, and a variety of Western medicines. If you just memorize these prescriptions, it will probably take you several months, and you may still not be able to use them if you encounter problems. You have to try permutations and combinations, which can easily lead to trouble, but if you understand the root cause of the disease, you may know what to use right away.
The same goes for calligraphy. Tao is a comprehensive level and is related to cultivation, conduct, understanding, understanding, personality, etc. In crash courses and senior colleges, it’s more about the construction of type, and God is hard to come by.
Finally, you should be humble and down-to-earth. Learning calligraphy itself is a very long process. It took a long time and hard work for others to write what they are today. Everyone may become your teacher in some aspects, so don’t look down on other people’s handwriting casually ( The Guanzhong circle may often have such an atmosphere, which is not good), because maybe your own writing is just like that, with half a bottle of water hanging around. In this way, you may not achieve anything in this life.
Don’t learn calligraphy for utilitarian purposes, and you shouldn’t practice it randomly as you like. Laws are very important, and inheritance is also very important:)