Sun Fang: Zen realm and book realm
About the author:
Sun Fangnan, Han nationality, born in Tongshan, Jiangsu Province,1June, 924. He graduated from Fu Jen Catholic University in Beijing in his early years and 1947 studied at North China United University. He used to be a reporter and editor of Jianghan Daily and Hubei Daily, and 1983 Chairman of Hubei Social Science Federation. I like calligraphy since I was a child. Good at cursive script, simple and vigorous, smooth and natural.
Buddhism was introduced to China from the Eastern Han Dynasty, and Dharma came from the East in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, teaching Zen Buddhism, which is "directed at people's hearts and seeing nature as a Buddha". Huineng, the sixth ancestor, inherited the mantle from Huangmei and Dongshan Temple. It is said that during the thirty-seven years, he initiated Epiphany Zen, which combined Buddhism with Confucianism, Taoism and other traditional cultures in Medieval Zen, and formed an epoch-making culture, making Zen an important part of China culture, spreading at home and abroad, with far-reaching influence.
Calligraphy, as a unique traditional art in China culture, is deeply influenced by Zen. Many eminent monks are famous calligraphers. Huai Su in Tang Dynasty, Badashanren in Qing Dynasty, Master Hongyi in modern times, etc. Many inscriptions on Buddhist scriptures such as Mount Tai and Stone Valley Diamond Sutra have become models for copying books.
Calligraphy history, Tang Shangfa, Song Shangyi. From respecting the law to respecting the will, it is undoubtedly influenced by Zen culture. Intention, wish. Zen's thoughts of "starting with the heart", "touching with the heart", "realizing with the heart", gradual realization and epiphany have a far-reaching influence on calligraphy art.
Su Shi, the leader of Song Shangyi's calligraphy, was deeply influenced by Zen culture. He has a meditation room at home and a meditation sofa indoors for meditation. He is closely related to some eminent monks. When he went to Yangzhou, he often crossed the river to visit Jackson Fo Yin in Jinshan Temple. He once wrote a poem praising the Buddha: "The first day is in the sky, shining brightly, and the eight winds can't blow, sitting on the purple lotus." I felt very good, so I sent someone across the river to see Jackson Fo Yin off. After reading it, Jackson Fo Yin wrote the word "fart" on it, and then gave it to a man to bring it back. Su Dongpo was very unhappy after reading it, and immediately took a boat across the river to argue with Zen master Fo Yin. Seeing Su Dongpo angry, Fo Yin Zen Master smiled and said, "Aren't you trapped in the Eight Winds?" ? How could I get spanked in Jiang Lai! "As can be seen from this story, Su Dongpo's meditation has not reached enlightenment, but it is deeply influenced by Zen, which is reflected in his calligraphy art and theory. He said: "I can't write books with my heart, and I'm very happy." "My book is not so good, but not practicing the ancients is quick success and instant benefit. "The pursuit of simplicity, straightforwardness, innocence and nature in calligraphy art is out of original intention.
After the Song Dynasty, many painters and calligraphers were influenced by Zen culture, painting and calligraphy with Zen mind, expressing Zen mind with calligraphy and painting, and raising painting and calligraphy to a new level. There is Zen in books and Zen in paintings, and the "mind" and "nature" of Zen have been integrated into calligraphy and painting. Dong Qichang, a painter in Ming Dynasty, was deeply influenced by Zen culture. He called his studio a painting meditation room. According to the epiphany and gradual realization of Zen Buddhism, it can be divided into North-South School, and calligraphy and painting can also be divided into North-South School. In calligraphy creation, we should "see me" and "pretend to be the eyes of the law". Calligraphy art is divided into tacit calligraphy and tacit calligraphy, and the highest ideal goal of calligraphy and painting is to show the true self. In the process of learning and improving the art of calligraphy, three realms are deeply discussed. One is "first impression"; Second, "China is like water"; The third is "if it is finally printed." What Dong Qichang pursues in calligraphy art is the word "light", and he creates light calligraphy in a free state of mind. Dong Qichang integrated Zen into calligraphy, taking gradual cultivation and epiphany as calligraphy, from the cultivation of basic skills to the realm of "epiphany" in which the mind and hands are forgotten. Han Ou Watanabe, a Japanese calligrapher, praised Dong Qichang's poem: "The cicada is fascinated by the skill of mountains and rivers, and it is naive to paint Dong Xuanzai in the meditation hall, and it will enlighten people through the ages."
Zen is the study of the heart, realizing the essence of the heart. Zen is integrated into calligraphy, creating Zen calligraphy and mind calligraphy.
When Huineng, the sixth ancestor, listened to the Diamond Sutra from five ancestors in the abbot's room in Dongshan Temple, Huangmei, he had an epiphany and knew his own heart and nature.
Living without a fixed place, calligraphy writing should keep a pure heart. Don't live in the right and wrong of good and evil, and don't be disturbed by delusions such as fame and fortune and grandstanding. In writing, you should let nature take its course, without affectation, random arrangement, coyness and vulgarity. Do whatever you want, without hindrance. "Clear water produces hibiscus, and carving is natural."
To look at his heart is to look at his heart clearly. The process of improving calligraphy art is also a process of "seeing nature clearly". There are three levels of participating in Zen, and there are also three levels of promoting Zen calligraphy, which gradually reach three levels:
First, there is a mentality, that is, what Dong Qichang called "inkpad" and "red claw snow mud", to study books in a down-to-earth manner. Inscription is a recognized calligraphy treasure since ancient times, which embodies the aesthetic consciousness of the Chinese nation. Sticking is to turn me into the past, learn from the strengths of my predecessors and improve the national aesthetic of calligraphy. Learn to brush ink, master the basic techniques of calligraphy art, and write carefully before using a pen. Mood is the basis of writing calligraphy well, which is insurmountable.
Second, use the state of mind, that is, Dong Qichang said that water is printed and flowing. Do whatever you want, and don't overstep the rules. That is to say, Su Dongpo said, "Innovation lies in statutes, and mystery lies outside the uninhibited." On the basis of a state of mind, I naturally turn the past into me, freely express my feelings and freely put pen to paper. Only by writing freely can we fully express our thoughts and feelings, express our personality in aesthetic consciousness, and complement each other in the artistic conception of being casual, intentional and casual, intentional and unintentional. It not only embodies the national aesthetics, but also shows the calligrapher's aesthetic personality, and gradually forms his own calligraphy style. Before the age of forty, Mifei collected ancient Chinese characters. Only after forty years old can he learn from others and turn the past into mine. Just as Wang Wenzhi praised Mi Fei's poem: "Sweep away Faye Wong's nonsense and make honey without flowers."
Third, there is no artistic conception, that is, Dong Qichang's sense of printing space, which is not better than Yoga Yu's, but the highest realm of calligraphy. Fully express your heart and see yourself. Dai Shulun in the Tang Dynasty wrote a song praising Huai Su's book: "The drama of red ink rushing, full of voices, looks strange and grotesque." Someone asked the mystery in detail, but Huai Su didn't know it at first. "Asked why he wrote so well, Huai Su said he didn't know. This is not an unintentional work! The unintentional here is actually the original heart. Nothing, nothing, nothing, flowers, moons and terraces. What is unintentional here is actually the calligrapher's knowledge accumulation, cultural and artistic accomplishment in calligraphy practice and social practice, as well as his feelings for various natural, social and humanistic beauty, which are accumulated in his subconscious mind and reflected by the free change of writing pen and ink. Unintentional is the heart of "seeing the heart is not born" and the heart of "seeing the nature". Therefore, "the book is also, and the heart is also." A text needs several words to understand its meaning, but a book has seen its heart. The so-called book is like a person.
The three realms of calligraphy art also have a process from gradual practice to epiphany. After watching Gong Sundaniang's sword dance and listening to the drummer's music, Zhang Xu understood the rhythm and rhythm of calligraphy, and cursive script made great progress. In Xiajiang, Huang Tingjian saw boatmen sailing against the current, realizing the Tao with long paddles and creating radioactive books with spears and spurge. There are many such examples. Therefore, calligraphy is also enlightened. The book realm and Zen realm also have the process of gradual cultivation to epiphany.
Sun Fang: Zen realm and book realm