1, theory is guidance.
Learning books can be roughly divided into theoretical learning and practical learning. As we know, theory is summarized or refined from practice. The correct theory often reveals the objective law of the development of things and is the "epistemology" and "methodology" for correctly understanding and transforming the world. Correct calligraphy theory is the "epistemology" and "methodology" of successful calligraphy learning, and everyone who is committed to learning calligraphy should master this "epistemology" and "methodology".
The relationship between learning calligraphy theory and practicing calligraphy is the relationship between knowing and doing. Knowing means "knowing" and "having the right orientation". The more you know, the more comprehensive you are, the more conscious you are, the more correct you are, and the more confident you are to achieve your goals as soon as possible. Therefore, it is very necessary to take calligraphy theory as the guiding ideology of calligraphy practice.
The so-called calligraphy theory, from another perspective, is actually the successful experience or failure lesson of predecessors. Without preschool experience, it is possible to get twice the result with half the effort; If we don't learn the lessons of our predecessors, we may make the same mistakes again. Therefore, people who are good at learning books will never practice blindly. They must be guided by theory, learn from the experience and lessons of their predecessors, and strive to find a bright road that suits them, so as to improve efficiency, reduce failures and simplify the learning process.
Theory is the "teacher" of self-learners, and finding the right theory means finding an "excellent teacher". Having a "teacher" does not necessarily mean that there is a guarantee of victory. Only having an "excellent teacher" can guarantee success. Therefore, we should also be good at distinguishing which are desirable "correct theories" and which are undesirable "wrong theories", and we must never treat them lightly.
2. Practicality is the premise
Calligraphy has distinct artistry and extensive uses. As long as Chinese characters and Chinese exist, it can't be a purely ornamental art independent of others. Calligraphy works since ancient times are all about writing Chinese characters and words. This kind of art, which takes Chinese characters as the modeling image and writing characters as the content, originally takes the practicality of Chinese characters as the first function, or is based on the practicality of Chinese characters.
This shows that we should not only consider the artistic appreciation of calligraphy, but also consider the practical side of Chinese characters. To learn calligraphy, you should write Chinese characters honestly, not only correctly, but also fluently (of course, there are higher requirements), at least for people to know and understand, because this is the basis of artistic language and artistic expression. It would be better if you can be good at both words and literary beauty. On the contrary, learn calligraphy without writing Chinese characters or writing (poems, essays, etc.). ) Just like wanting to be a doctor but unwilling to study diagnostics and pharmacology, you will inevitably lose your foundation.
Besides, we don't just want to be artists when we study calligraphy (it is impossible for all people who study calligraphy to become artists). More purpose is to learn and make good use of China's Chinese characters, improve the artistic writing ability and artistic appreciation ability of Chinese characters, so as to optimize and improve the daily use effect of Chinese characters. Even calligraphers' writing is not all about creating works of art, but more often it is generally used for writing. If the art of calligraphy wants to be more lyrical, it lacks the quality (premise) of paying equal attention to Chinese characters and practicality, the connotation of the author's thoughts and the information of China's traditional culture, and its vitality will inevitably be affected.
3. Sticking is a shortcut.
Lin Tie is the starting point of learning calligraphy, and it is also a shortcut to getting started in calligraphy. Calligraphers of all ages attached great importance to temporary posts.
Wang Duo said: "I don't understand the calligraphy of ancient monuments. In the end, it is not ancient, but a vulgar pen." Song Cao said: "We must take the ancients as the law to realize that we were born outside the ancient law." Ma Yifu said: "Learning books must have no history in order to be elegant." Most of the ancient calligraphy posts are calligraphy templates left by historical screening, which record the successful experience of predecessors in using pens, structure, layout (composition) and other rules, artistic ideas and artistic expressions. Seeking the root of his heart can reduce his own groping and detours, and find the true meaning and mystery of calligraphy art most directly and quickly. Sticking is really a shortcut to getting started.
However, there are many inscriptions in the past dynasties, which are still being excavated and published one after another. Although these countless inscriptions are valuable, they have different tastes because of the uneven artistic ability of the writers or different writing purposes. Some of them can't be used as "dharma books" or even worth imitating. Therefore, we should choose our posts carefully. "Selecting posts" is like "selecting teachers". The ancients taught us to "take the law and rely on it." We can't just fall at the feet of bad books, strange books, sick books and vulgar books.
4. Regular script is the foundation.
There are many kinds of ancient calligraphy posts, such as original calligraphy, cursive script, official script, seal script and so on. Where is the best place to start? All along, calligraphers (calligraphers) have their own words and different understandings. I think regular script is the foundation, and it is more appropriate to start with regular script:
(1) Beginners should pay attention to rules and statutes in order to get on the right track. The eight methods of regular script (horizontal, vertical, skimming, pressing, pointing, hooking, picking and folding) are complete and the most stringent. With this rope, it is also a strict teaching and learning, and it will definitely make progress. Regular script is as steady as slow motion, one stroke at a time, all in place and standardized. Its stippling and structure are very fine, which can best train the basic kung fu and cultivate the mentality of not floating or impetuous. This is the right way to start. Pan Tianshou, a close friend, put it well: "When you start to learn calligraphy, you must be disciplined and formal, starting with block letters."
(2) Beginners should follow the order and be quiet before moving, so as to improve efficiency. If the model is standing, then the weather is stable and quiet. Walking is like walking, grass is like running and sky is like flying. Learn regular script first, then running script and cursive script. It is quiet before moving, which conforms to the operating rules and is more convenient to convert. Therefore, Su Dongpo philosophically said in the Song Dynasty: "Calligraphy is prepared in the official book and overflows in the grass. I can't change books, but I can make grass. I haven't heard Zhuang language yet, but I don't want to say it. " Hins Cheung in the Tang Dynasty even said sternly, "If you are a beginner, you should study real books first, which is not a loss. If you don't learn the real book first, learn the vertical body. If you are a patriarch, you will learn the real body. It is difficult to succeed! "
(3) Beginners of calligraphy should start from a convenient place, so that they can see the effect early. In the time series of the formation and evolution of Chinese characters, regular script is the last finalized font, and it is the most widely used and popular font today. We are more familiar with its face, so from now on, compared with the beginning of seal script, official script and grass (line), the difficulty of identification is reduced. What's more, learning it will be beneficial to daily use immediately, and there is another gain. Why not?
5, brushwork is the key.
"brushwork is a method of writing and stippling with a pen" (Shen Lun Shu). "Calligraphy is based on the use of pens, and it also requires hard work to become words. It is not easy to use a pen through the ages "(Thirteen Prefaces to Lanting Collection by Zhao Meng). "The beauty of calligraphy lies in writing. It's time to do what you want, and do it around it. The manipulation is very familiar and ingenious "(Kang Youwei's" Guangyi Ship Double Bows "). For brushwork, the ancients gave high evaluation and great attention, because this is the key to writing. Writing with different pens, or brushing words, or filling words, or drawing ducks, have different effects.
In the process of application, the characteristics of brushwork are lifting, pressing, twisting, turning or making, turning, slowing down and getting sick. In the handwriting (ink), it is light, heavy, round, square, even broken, moist and impetuous. This is the display of artistic style and the profundity of artistic language. One tiny difference is thousands of miles away. The delicacy, richness and complexity of brushwork can not be ignored, and it needs a lot of effort. Master all kinds of writing methods, stippling is more diverse and writing is more vivid. If you can use it freely and skillfully, you can say that you have mastered the key to calligraphy.
6. Learning to get rich is a ladder.
It is not enough to rely only on the theory of calligraphy techniques and the practice of copying books. We should also strengthen our knowledge and artistic accomplishment in many aspects. For example, historical evolution, philology knowledge, inscriptions, stone carvings, ink and its authenticity, calligraphers of past dynasties, literature, aesthetics, philosophy, moral cultivation, resignation and even sister art, etc. We should study, study and master as much as possible to enrich the calligrapher's ideological treasure house, enrich the content of calligraphy artistic creation and improve the artistry of calligraphy works. Learning books emphasize the nourishment of learning. "How can you run a city without fighting in your chest?" ? I compare the theory of techniques and the practical skills of excelling nature to "fine seeds" (good seedlings), and compare all kinds of knowledge and artistic accomplishment to "air, water, soil and sunshine" (suitable environment). Good seedlings must have a good environment to thrive. Therefore, it is a ladder to climb the artistic peak, and we must work hard to build it.
7. Hard work is the only way.
Calligraphy practice must emphasize enough quantity. In other words, we should work hard enough and "Kung Fu should not be extreme" (Wu Yuru). "Zhang Boying Linchi Snow Tree, the pool is full of ink, and the teacher can't climb the stairs for more than 40 years. Zhang Gong is familiar with it. His name is Cao Sheng. He is always detained by the teacher and will eventually become famous. In this sense, it is impossible to do it overnight. As the saying goes,' a book takes a hundred days to work' is good for a long talk. It is advisable to attack with a bald head, why not for a hundred days! " (Xu Hao's book).
Learning calligraphy is a hard job. Without hard-working spirit and persistent perseverance, there will be no achievement. The ancients had long had experience and understanding. Miffy said, "If you don't read for a day, you will feel tired. You think that if the ancients didn't read it, you would be abolished. " Su Shi said: "The pen becomes a tomb, and the ink becomes a pool. It is better to give. A bald pen grinds a thousand collars. Don't be Zhang Zhihe Suo Jing. "
It seems that studying hard is the only way to master and use calligraphy skills. The ancients who used brush tools every day did not dare to slack off, let alone us.
8, enlightenment is self-improvement.
He said: "A calligrapher must establish his own family, the purpose of which is to forge the ancients and form his own family." Therefore, learning books requires learning ancient posts and learning traditions well, which is not the ultimate goal. Just to learn the ancient law and optimize our learning process. If we want to truly cast the ancients and stand on their own feet, we must learn and use them flexibly. Through the study of ancient posts, pointillism and structure, I have learned brushwork skills, spirit and aesthetic thoughts, realized the truth and found nutrients suitable for digestion and absorption to enrich myself. For example, it is called "eat pork and grow human flesh". This is transformation and flexible use. You should know that "enlightenment" is an important part of posting attention to me and an important symbol of self-reliance. If you can't "realize", can't melt and cast, and can't innovate, you will be regarded as dead learning.
It should be reminded that "enlightenment" and "transformation" should not be anxious or deliberate, but should be gradual and "natural".