When it comes to the history of calligraphy in China, there is an unavoidable question, that is, what was the earliest calligraphy like? It is not easy to answer this question. But there are four aspects to be involved: first, when is the earliest history of China that can be searched; Second, how did words come into being? Third, whether the history of writing is synchronized with the history of calligraphy; Fourthly, whether the existing physical data can meet our research requirements. The first question is purely considered by historians, the second and third questions are left for theorists to discuss, and the fourth question belongs to our calligraphers and calligraphy art lovers; In fact, the aesthetic value of physical materials is more likely to make people interested.
There are some theories about the origin of Chinese characters, such as the Eight Diagrams created by Yong family, the tying rope created by Shennong and the pictographic characters created by Cang Xie, but no one can assert it. Basically, it is certain that there is a mature process from the birth to the use of words. On this road, they advance on two legs of practical value and aesthetic value.
As early as more than 6,000 years ago, during the Yangshao culture period in the Neolithic Age, ancestors had painted or marked pottery used in daily life with pens. If the saying that "calligraphy and painting are of the same origin" makes sense, then the history of writing or calligraphy will at least not be later than this.
Oracle Bone Inscriptions is the earliest mature calligraphy that can be seen at present. In 1899, Wang came across some depicting symbols on a Chinese herbal medicine called "keel". The "keel" is the tortoise shell, and the symbols carved on it were later proved by archaeologists and ancient philologists to be "Oracle Bone Inscriptions". Originally unearthed in Yin Ruins in Xiaotun Village, Anyang, Henan Province, it is a relic of Shang Dynasty about 3400 years ago. Later, after continuous excavation, as many as100000 pieces of Oracle bones were unearthed; There are 4500 descriptive symbols on it, of which 1700 are deciphered and explained one by one. Oracle Bone Inscriptions's content is mostly "Oracle", which records fortune-telling events.
Oracle Bone Inscriptions, mainly carving, from the perspective of calligraphy, has fully possessed the main elements of composition, structure, pen and so on. For example, an Oracle bone of the Shang Dynasty in Wuding (BC13-12nd century) in the Tibetan History Museum now has as many as 128 inscriptions on it, describing Ding You's business trip to Japan, which is ingenious and unpredictable. Oracle Bone Inscriptions's composition is either neat or strewn at random, or neat or casual, with delicate or rigid lines. Apart from the objective limitations of the tools and materials used, his subjective aesthetic taste and "calligraphy consciousness" are undeniable. Another example is the Oracle bones of Zu Geng Zujia period, the Oracle bones of New Kangding period and the Oracle bones of Wuyi Wen Ding period, which also have their own characteristics. Interestingly, several pieces of Oracle bones were not carved with a knife, but were written in Zhu calligraphy or ink calligraphy, which proved that writing tools such as writing brush had been used at that time.
In the Zhou Dynasty, bronze inscriptions were the main forms of calligraphy and calligraphy. Bronze inscriptions, also known as Zhong Dingwen, are a kind of calligraphy cast on Zhong Ding and other objects, whether yin or yang. Bronze inscriptions matured in the late Shang and Yin Dynasties (BC 14-65438+ BC 0 1 century), such as defending the inheritor, Zaifuding and Muding. This was followed by celestial death and ritual death in the Western period, He Zun in the Wang period, Geng Ying, Geng Ding, Da, Zhao Zun and so on in the Kang Wang period. In the mid-Western Zhou Dynasty, long inscriptions on bronzes were more common, such as Yongyu, Bipan in the * * * period, Shi Hu Gui in the period, and Da Keding in the period of Xiao Wang, and their big seals were more rounded and beautiful. By the end of the Western Zhou Dynasty, such as the "Three Dishes of Stone", the "Mao" and the "Dish" of the period, the bronze inscription reached its peak, simple, dignified, generous, fat, cultured, tolerant and erratic. By the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the governors had created their own local calligraphy based on the inscriptions on bronze in the Zhou Dynasty, such as the sword of Gou Jian, the statue of Cai Hou, the chime of Ceng Houyi, etc., with slender fonts, which were quite decorative and exaggerated.
Shi Guwen in Qin Dynasty (also known as Chen Cang Ten Chapters, Yong Yi Hunting Chapters and Stone Carving) is the earliest stone carving calligraphy seen at present. His calligraphy style is between ancient books and Qin Zhuan, and it is a representative work in the transition period from Da Zhuan to Xiao Zhuan. Shi Guwen was unearthed in Baoji, Shaanxi Province in the early Tang Dynasty, and Han Yu wrote "Shigu Song", which had a great influence on later generations.