1. Oracle bone inscriptions are the earliest systematic writing seen so far. They already contain the basic elements of calligraphy art, including brushwork, structure, and composition. The brushwork changes in thickness, weight, and speed. The structure follows the body and shape, leaving it natural. The composition is scattered and colorful yet harmonious and unified.
2. The gold calligraphy of the Western Zhou Dynasty has thick strokes, rigorous and square structure, scattered and natural composition, rich and vigorous calligraphy style, full of simple and solemn atmosphere, showing the powerful and vigorous style of the Zhou Dynasty.
3. Xiaozhuan is the standard script established after the Qin Dynasty unified the six kingdoms. After being compiled and simplified by Li Si and others, its strokes are even, round and strong, with a stable structure, dense at the top and sparse at the bottom, calm and stretched. It not only reflects the neat and majestic overall style of the Qin Dynasty that unified the world, but also reflects the aesthetic mentality of restraint, rational benevolence and the golden mean preached by pre-Confucianism.
4. The emergence of official script is a major milestone in the history of calligraphy development. It completely changed the uniformity of seal script lines. The official script's wave-like strokes have been significantly strengthened, allowing the emotional movement rhythms that have been accumulated in people's hearts to be vividly displayed, permeating the calligrapher's will, and creating a richer and more vivid connotation of life's artistic conception.
5. From the perspective of the time and space background of Han Dynasty culture, Han Dynasty calligraphy was radiated by the spirit of the times, reflected the Han nation's admiration for majesty and boldness, and was the objectification of human power. It is in this cultural and psychological time and space that we see the elegant and magnificent Han Fu, and the group of ancient, solemn and simple animal sculptures in front of Huo Qubing's tomb.
6. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the society of the Southern Dynasties was relatively stable, and the calligraphy world was dominated by the calligraphy style of the "two kings". Succession of the "two kings" was regarded as the most important thing, but the achievements were not high. The calligraphy of the Northern Dynasties is mainly reflected in the inscriptions. At this time, calligraphy was a transitional period from the official script of the Han Dynasty to the regular script of the Tang Dynasty. Zhong Zhishuai said that "the old styles of the Han and Qin Dynasties can be seen from the top, and the practices of the Sui and Tang Dynasties can be observed from the bottom." This is the calligraphy of the Northern Dynasties. A major feature of the country is that its overall style is completely different from that of the south.
7. "People of the Tang Dynasty respected the law." In the Tang Dynasty, famous regular script writers emerged in large numbers, and the stars were shining brightly. In particular, Yan Zhenqing's regular script is dignified, majestic, simple and majestic, awe-inspiring and manly, and has become a typical representative of masculine beauty in the history of Chinese calligraphy. The formation of Yan's bold and majestic style and strict legal code is not accidental. It is a reflection of the political rationality and vitality of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
At this time, various art fields changed from the implicit and charming fashion of the early Tang Dynasty, and focused their respective aesthetic pursuits on the aesthetic spirit, which was both full of realism spirit and It is filled with the atmosphere of romanticism and expresses the healthy and full cultural mentality and bold and luxurious artistic taste of the Tang people.
8. "The Ming and Qing Dynasties maintained their state of mind." In the Ming Dynasty, due to the emergence of capitalist factors and the awakening of citizens' consciousness, the culture and art of the Ming Dynasty had a creative aesthetic tendency that reflected citizens' lives as the mainstream. Therefore, the formal aesthetics seemed to be more free and popular, close to reality, expressing human feelings, and truly It has opened up the social capacity of culture, art and aesthetics, thus further demonstrating the positive effect of art reflecting life.
Extended information:
The basis of Chinese calligraphy:
The background of calligraphy art is traditional Chinese culture. Calligraphy is rooted in the soil of traditional Chinese culture, and traditional culture is the background on which calligraphy depends for its survival and development. The calligraphy theory since the Han Dynasty that we can see today has its own system, completeness and organization. Like other literary and artistic theories, calligraphy theory includes not only the technical theory of calligraphy itself, but also its aesthetic theory, and the wisdom of ancient Chinese literati shines in these theories.
For example, the theory on how to express "spirit, energy, bone, flesh, blood" and other categories in calligraphy, the theory on brushwork, calligraphy, composition and other techniques, as well as creation theory, taste criticism, etc., are all It has its own system.
Reference material: Baidu Encyclopedia-Calligraphy