Ren's running calligraphy: horizontal fold hook, firm hook, horizontal, vertical, left and right (six strokes).
1. Prepare writing tools: First, prepare the tools needed for writing human calligraphy. Usually a brush and rice paper are used. Make sure the bristles of the brush are in good condition and that there is enough ink.
2. Practice basic strokes: The basic strokes of human running script include horizontal, vertical, left, back, dot, fold, etc. It is very important to practice these basic strokes before writing human cursive script. Each stroke has its own specific order and structure.
3. Learn font specifications and writing postures: Study human cursive fonts and understand their specifications and characteristics. Observe the works of masters and imitate their letterforms and lines. It is important to maintain correct sitting and wrist posture. Sit upright with your wrists steady to ensure smooth and stable writing.
4. Writing order, writing speed and strength: Understanding the correct writing order of Chinese characters will help form standardized glyphs. In human cursive script, the order of writing also needs to be strictly followed. Human running script emphasizes changes in the speed and intensity of strokes. The alternating use of fast light strokes and slow heavy strokes gives human cursive writing a sense of movement and rhythm.
5. Continuous strokes and expressing emotions: Running script usually uses continuous strokes, which connect adjacent strokes together to make the writing of Chinese characters smoother. It is necessary to master the skills of continuous strokes to ensure the overall harmony of glyphs. Human running script allows the writer to express emotion and personality. You can add natural wavy lines and curves to your writing to show off your personal style and emotion.
6. Practice, imitate and create personal works: To improve one’s cursive writing skills, repeated practice is very important. You can imitate the works of masters and continue to accumulate experience. Once you have mastered the basic skills of human calligraphy, you can start creating personal works. Try writing quotes, poems, or expressing your emotions and thoughts.
The Origin of Running Script
1. Xiaozhuan: Originating in the Warring States Period, Xiaozhuan is the originator of Chinese calligraphy and is used to engrave official documents and inscriptions. Xiaozhuan has complex glyphs and rigorous lines, making it suitable for being engraved on seals or stone carvings. However, it is limited in writing speed and is not suitable for daily writing.
2. Official script: In order to solve the problem of slow writing speed of Xiaozhuan, official script appeared in the Han Dynasty, which simplified the strokes of Xiaozhuan and made writing faster and smoother. Official script occupies an important position in the culture of the Han Dynasty and is used to write documents, classics, inscriptions, etc.
3. The evolution of running script: Over time, official script gradually evolved into running script. Running script retains some characteristics of official script, such as horizontal and vertical straight lines and strokes with larger angles, but it also adds more curves and connected strokes to increase writing speed and fluency.
4. Period of origin: The origin of running script can be traced back to the late Han Dynasty, especially the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. Zhang Xu, a calligrapher of the Eastern Han Dynasty, is considered the founder of running script, and his calligraphy works have distinctive features of running script.
5. Inheritance and development: Running script has been further developed and inherited during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. Many famous calligraphers such as Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi have made outstanding achievements in the field of running script. Their works provided important reference and inspiration for future generations of calligraphers.