What is square, circle, fold and turn?

Square and circle are two States of calligraphy pen in stroke shape. What is Fang Bi? Refers to the square hard edges and corners at the beginning, end and turning point of a stroke. What is a round pen? Refers to the shape of a stroke at the beginning, end and turn, which is round and arc, round and powerful, and does not show edges and corners. As shown in the figure (1 1)

Figure 1 1 Fang Bi and a round pen

Folding and rotating are two different ways to use a pen when a stroke changes its direction of travel. What is a folding pen? It means that when the brush moves in translation, it suddenly changes the direction of the pen at one point, forming a folding angle. This brushwork is called folding pen. What is a pen transfer? It means that the brush moves in an arc when translating. This kind of brushwork is called turning the pen. (as shown in figure 12)

Figure 12 Folding rotary pen

Fang Bi's characteristics are: lively rhythm, strong sense of frustration, strong bones and muscles, and extending outward. In calligraphy, he became an "outward-extending pen", which is a legacy from the attribute. It says: the nib crosses forward and downward, then the pen is turned over to adjust the front, and it also stops to fold when it is closed, so it is called "folding into a square" in calligraphy. Generally speaking, Fang Bi is more common in Weibei and Ou Yangxun, Tang Kai.

The characteristics of a round pen are: pen as the center, no exposed edges and corners, natural coming and going, round and vigorous. Calligraphy is called "internal pen", which is the legacy of seal script. What it says is this: start the pen around the front, the strokes are even, and run around the corner. When you stop at the end, you will turn around and collect your pen, which is called "turning round" in calligraphy. Generally speaking, apart from seal script, Tang Kai and Yu Shi Nandu are good at writing. But on the whole, it is ok, and cursive script is used more. As the saying goes, "You really need to fold more, and the grass needs to be turned more." (as shown in figure 13)

Figure 13

Fang Bi and the round pen have their own strengths, and Fang Bi is dignified and neat, vigorous and steep; The round pen is vigorous and graceful. But if you use Fang Bi purely, it will be too rigid and artificial; If you use a round pen, it is easy to be weak. As the predecessors said: "A pen without a circle is not implicit, and a pen without a square is not powerful." Therefore, Fiona Fang has both functions and proper twists and turns, so as to let nature take its course and bring out the best in each other.