As far as learning calligraphy is concerned, most people think that you should first learn regular script, which is the basic skill. Today, some people think that you can start directly from running script. And some people are actually quite effective. Running script is divided into running script and running script, as the name suggests. , one prefers regular script, and the other prefers cursive script. Running script and cursive script are described below:
Running script is a calligraphy style that emerged after cursive script and regular script. According to legend, it was created by Liu Desheng, a calligrapher during the reign of Emperors Huan and Ling of the later Han Dynasty. Wei Heng of the Western Jin Dynasty's "Four Styles of Calligraphy" said: "In the early Wei Dynasty, there were two families, Zhong (Yao) and Hu (Zhao), who practiced calligraphy. , I learned from Liu Desheng. "It is a pity that Liu Desheng did not leave any ink marks.
What is running script? In short, it is a script based on regular script with small changes, making it very easy to write. Therefore, it became popular in conjunction with regular script. Running script is a calligraphy style between cursive script and regular script. It is not as difficult to write and read as cursive script, and it is not as rigorous and dignified as regular script. Therefore, the ancients said that it is "neither true nor grass". It is characterized by the use of certain cursive techniques, which partially simplifies the strokes of regular script, changes the pen shape of regular script, and curates the structure of regular script. In short, it is more fluid, straightforward, and unrestrained than regular script, and it is easier to read and write than cursive script.
Running script was a new style of writing that emerged along with regular script in the late Han Dynasty. At that time, it was not widely used. It was not until the emergence of Wang Xizhi of the Jin Dynasty that it became popular.
Cursive script is a font with continuous strokes and simple structure created by people for the convenience of writing. The original meaning of "grass" in ancient times contained the meaning of haste, haste, scratch work, draft, informality and immaturity. Cursive script can be divided into Zhangcao, Jincao and Kuangcao.
Zhangcao originated from "Jijiuzhang" written by Huangmenling Shiyou during the reign of Emperor Yuan of the Western Han Dynasty, so it was named "Zhangcao". It is also said that Emperor Zhang of the Eastern Han Dynasty liked this style of calligraphy, hence the name. Zhang Huaiguan of the Tang Dynasty said: "Zhangcao is the success of official script." Therefore, Zhangcao still retains some traces of official script strokes. Zhangcao emerged in the late Qin and early Han dynasties, flourished in the Han, Wei and Jin dynasties, declined in the early Tang dynasty, revived in the Yuan and Ming dynasties, fell silent in the Qing dynasty, and then rose again in the late Qing dynasty. In the Han Dynasty, Du Du was the earliest Zhangcao artist recorded in history. Cui Ai was also famous for Zhangcao, and was also called "Cui Du" by people at that time. Zhang Zhizhang learned from Du and Cui, and was known as a master. During the Three Kingdoms period, the Emperor Xiang Zhang Cao was the most popular, and Zhong Yao was also good at this style. In the Western Jin Dynasty, Suo Jing's Zhangcao art reached its peak, and together with Wei Guan, he was known as "one of the two masters". In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Xi Xian, his father and his son, and Wei Shuo were all experts in Zhangcao. During the Tang and Song dynasties, calligraphers emerged in large numbers, but there were very few calligraphers, and the method of calligraphy only existed or disappeared. In the Yuan Dynasty, only Zhao Mengzhao reproduced Gongzhangcao. The Ming Dynasty was known as the "Three Song Dynasties", among which Song Ke was the only one good at Zhangcao. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Zhangcao was revived, and a number of famous Zhangcao masters such as Shen Zengzhi and Wang Chuan emerged.
The history of Zhangcao is not long, but it has played a great positive role in the modern grass that has emerged in its place, and cursive calligraphers in history have also absorbed a lot of nutrients from it.
The one who rose up on behalf of Zhang Cao is Jin Cao. Traditionally, we refer to Jincao directly as cursive script. According to historical records, Jincao was founded by Zhang Zhi in the late Han Dynasty. However, judging from his works that have been handed down, they are not reliable. It is generally believed that Wang Xizhi of the Jin Dynasty was the master of cursive script. Because of Wang Xizhi's achievements in the history of calligraphy, people regard him as the "Sage of Calligraphy".
The following is an example of running script: