1. Copying is an important means of learning calligraphy, especially in the beginner stage, most of the time is spent on copying pictures. There are also calligraphers who often copy in their later years, even throughout their lives. For example, Hu Xiaoshi and Lin Sanzhi still do daily copying in their later years; Zhao Mengfu and Wang Juesi still indulge in copying Wang Xizhi's calligraphy in their later years. What's more, Li Ruiqing, a Taoist of the Qing Dynasty, regarded copying calligraphy works as representative works of calligraphy throughout his life. Of course, the purpose of copying by beginners and copying by calligraphers are different, and there are essential differences. Beginners copy mainly to lay a good foundation for calligraphy and to have good basic skills. Calligraphers have clear goals and selective copying in order to further deepen and study in order to achieve the final ideal.
2. The copying we are talking about now generally refers to copying rather than copying. Traditional copying includes two different methods: copying and copying. Copying can also be divided into two methods: tracing and printing. Tracing red means copying on red words printed specifically for copying books; copying means covering copybooks with translucent paper to copy. The "copy" method is generally only used by beginners, but it can also be used for further practice and research. Lin can also be divided into three types: facing, back and mind. From copying to writing, then from facing to back, and from back to thinking, this represents the progress and improvement of calligraphy learning. There is a saying of "three turns and nine returns" in spiritual practice, which means that true practice often requires going from low to high, and from high to low, repeated many times, so as to truly make the work practical and achieve perfection.
3. Calligraphy copying can be divided into two types: learning copying and practice copying. The former is copying for the purpose of learning and improving calligraphy;
4. The latter uses copying as a method and means to complete calligraphy works. The former can be regarded as primary copying, while the latter is relatively speaking an intermediate and advanced copying. Just because the purposes are different, the concepts and techniques are naturally different. If it is a learning copy, we usually seek similarity in form first, and then look for similarity in spirit, with the goal of having both form and spirit. In addition, they often adopt a method of abandoning themselves and following others, completely aiming at learning and doing well, and cannot take into account individuality and performance. Creative copying is different. Precisely because copying serves the purpose of creation and personal integrity of calligraphy, it is more important to master the overall methods and laws of calligraphy through copying, and at the same time, it is also necessary to consider combining one's own personality and hobbies. This kind of copying can have more subjective consciousness and thoughts, can pursue spiritual similarity, and can also take into account the factors of combining personal style.
5. Copying can also be divided into two types: realistic copying and freehand copying. The literal meaning of realistic copying is that it is a method of respecting objective objects and emphasizing accurate and realistic reflections. Freehand copying does not emphasize realism and shape, but focuses on getting its meaning and spirit. It can be said that the former emphasizes the similarity in form, while the latter emphasizes the similarity in spirit. Generally, in the initial stage of learning calligraphy, you can focus on realistic copying, emphasizing the similarity of form first. After you have a certain foundation, you will gradually transition to freehand copying. In the mature stage of freehand copying, although the resemblance is not sought at this time, because there is a foundation and skill for resemblance, the resemblance is not sought but a rough resemblance, which has the effect of "resemblance without resemblance" and "resemblance in spirit". Whether it is realistic copying or freehand copying, each person's personality and role and performance in calligraphy must be taken into consideration. Conventional calligraphy learning in our country, especially calligraphy learning at the primary stage, generally does not pay enough attention to this point. Emphasizing this point will actually have very serious adverse consequences for calligraphy learning. Many people don't know that the real success of calligraphy must include an important factor in the expression of personality. This is the so-called true "book is like its person" and "person is like its book".