Idioms describing good writing include: pen moves like a dragon and snake, dragon flies and phoenix dances, facial muscles and willow bones, iron painting and silver hook, wandering clouds startle the dragon.
1. The pen moves like a dragon and a snake
1. Pinyin: bǐ zǒu lóng shé
2. Interpretation: It means that when the pen is waved, a dragon and a snake appear. Dancing attitude. The calligraphy is described as vivid and powerful, with a free and easy style.
3. Source: Tang Dynasty Li Bai's "Cursive Script Song": From time to time, only dragons and snakes are seen walking away, left and right are frowning like lightning. (Translation: All you can see is a giant python swimming around with flying dragons and phoenixes. The gestures of the writing are coiled left and right, rushing left and right, like lightning in the sky.)
2. Dragons and phoenixes dancing
1. Pinyin: lóng fēi fèng wǔ
2. Interpretation: It originally described the winding and majestic mountains, and later also described the powerful and flexible calligraphy strokes.
3. Source: "Tokyo Fu" by Zhang Heng of the Han Dynasty: My ancestor's dragon flew over the white water, and the phoenix flew over the ruins. (Translation: His ancestors started their careers as officials in Baishui, and the area around Shanxi and Henan is an auspicious place.)
3. Yan Jin Liu Gu
1. Pinyin: yán jīn liǔ gǔ
2. Interpretation: Refers to the strong and powerful calligraphy of the Yan and Liu families, but their styles are different. Also generally known as excellent calligraphy.
3. Source: Song Dynasty Fan Zhongyan's "Stone Sacrifice Scholar's Articles": Man Qing's pen is full of sinews and willow bones. (Translation: The calligraphy written by Manqing has both the strong bones and tight structure of Liu Gongquan’s calligraphy; and the dignified and majestic calligraphy of Yan Zhenqing, with open momentum and excellent calligraphy.)
4. Iron Painting and Silver Hook
1. Pinyin: tiě huà yín gōu
2. Interpretation: Describes the calligrapher's brushwork, and his stipples are strong and soft.
3. Source: "On the Use of Brushwork" by Ouyang Xun of the Tang Dynasty: Strong is like iron painting, charming is like silver hook. (Translation: Hard is like iron sheets and iron wires forged and welded into a pattern, and charming is like silver or silver curtain hooks.)
5. A wandering cloud that startled the dragon
1. Pinyin: yóu yún jīng lóng
2. Definition: Describes exquisite calligraphy.
3. Source: Tang Dynasty Fang Xuanling's "Jin Shu Biography of Wang Xizhi": I thought it was floating like a wandering cloud, and it was as powerful as a startling dragon. (Translation: As elegant as floating clouds, as agile as a frightening dragon.)