1 hour ago, the creator of the cultural field
We often hear people say "pay attention to the center of gravity of the text!" But what is the center of gravity? How to find the center of a word? What's the use of center of gravity?
Let me share my personal opinion here.
Zero and center of gravity are the products of the distribution of quantity.
To understand the center of gravity, we must first clarify the concept of the center of gravity and figure out what we are talking about.
The author's basic argument is that the center of gravity is a way of thinking and the product of the distribution of quantity, not a physical point or geometric point.
That is to say, the center of gravity referred to by calligraphy and the center of gravity of physics or geometry are completely different, and the center of gravity of physics or geometry is not helpful to calligraphy.
Geometric center of gravity of triangle
For example, a word "Cai", draw its outline and find its geometric center of gravity. So how does this point help writing?
Not exactly.
What is the center of gravity that really helps calligraphy? Here is an example to illustrate.
When the word "you a" is written in a line, the function of the center of gravity comes out immediately.
The word "You Jia" on the left is only arranged mechanically, without considering the distribution of the center of gravity of the words themselves, while the arrangement of "You Jia" on the right is more advanced, putting the centers of gravity of the two words on a line, which makes the combination more reasonable and looks more pleasing to the eye.
It can be seen that the center of gravity is in a place with a large amount of words. When writing horizontally, the center of gravity of each word should be in a straight line, so as to be neat and tidy.
Not only between words, but also the combination of parts within words, we should also consider the center of gravity.
For the word "Chu", the lower part of the word "Autumn" on the left is heavier, so the knife on the right should be aimed at its center of gravity, so that the vision will be balanced. "Knife" should not be too high, too low or too big.
The word "and" is the same.
The center of gravity is produced by the distribution of quantity. The quantity here refers to the number and composition (thickness, length) of strokes. Relative to the left and right, the center of gravity is centered when the quantity is equal, and the center of gravity is biased to one side when the quantity is unequal, and so on.
The "center of gravity" that helps writing is not the "point" corresponding to the center of gravity, but the idea of understanding the "distribution of quantity" behind the center of gravity. One word, left and right stroke assignment, up and down stroke assignment. Isn't the whole word written?
As for how to distribute it? The following details.
First of all, the main center of gravity is in the middle.
At this time, the center of gravity is the center, and the distribution of quantity is uniform. Suitable for ambigrams or characters with little difference in stroke characteristics.
For example, the word "heavy" should obviously be symmetrical, and the "quantity" on both sides is evenly distributed, so the center of gravity is on the center line.
There is little difference between the left and right of the word "wood", and the center of gravity is also in the center line.
When writing any word, whether it is single or combined, readers should first establish the thinking of left and right contrast and up and down contrast. After comparison, if there is little difference, the center of gravity is in the middle, and pay close attention to the center line of the word. Zhao Yiguang in the Ming Dynasty said: "Writing is on the left and thinking is on the right; Write right and think left. " That's what it means.
What if there's a big difference or you want to make a difference on purpose?
Second, the center of gravity is on the right.
Words with little difference in each part deliberately create differences, so the center of gravity is best to the right or above.
Why deliberately create differences? Because art refuses to be rigid, mathematical symmetry will bring a certain sense of beauty, but at the same time it also appears rigid, like computer words, lacking some clever changes.
Or the word "heavy", if you want to break the special symmetry, you can choose to extend the long and horizontal direction to the right (the center of gravity of the whole word is on the left) or to the left (the center of gravity of the whole word is on the right). The conclusion is that the center of gravity is better to the right than to the left. As shown below.
For example, the word "person" is weak and strong, that is, the center of gravity is to the right and it is definitely ugly.
If the vertical hook of the word "Cai" is placed in the middle of the cross, the overall center of gravity is left and placed on the right side of the cross, and the overall center of gravity is right. Obviously, right is better than left.
The simplest model with the center of gravity to the right is the word "ten". The vertical painting is placed in the middle of the horizontal direction, and the whole word is roughly symmetrical, but slightly dull. If the vertical painting is placed on the right, the center of gravity will move to the right.
Look again: the upper side of the center of gravity looks better than the lower side.
It's still the word "heavy", with horizontal lines up and down. By default, we lengthen the horizontal line above into a long horizontal line. What if the lower horizontal line is long?
It can be found that the lower the center of gravity of the word on the right, the more ugly the word "heavy" is. Therefore, in the case of selectivity, it is better to choose a higher center of gravity.
The vertical elongation of the word "ten" actually moves the center of gravity of the word up to make the whole word look better. Similar "Zhong", "Shen" and "Er" are all like this.
If you mention the word "army" again, can you see that the center of gravity is on the right?
Of course, the stroke characteristics of some words determine that they must be left-handed and right-handed (such as "Liu"), or they must be left-handed and left-handed (such as "earth"), so let nature take its course. Go to the side with more strokes and more weight.
However, the words on the right and above account for the vast majority. Mastering this law will get twice the result with half the effort.
This is the deviation of the center of gravity.
Third, the final center of gravity is dynamic balance.
Although the center of gravity looks good, it is still not perfect. Because the whole word is still static, there is no movement. How about going up a flight of stairs?
Look at the word "go". It is easy to judge that its center of gravity is on the right, because most strokes are distributed on the right.
But this word is not perfect, because it is too regular, and every pen dies in its fixed position.
Now, I'm going to change a stroke slightly to make the level tilt a little.
After the horizontal tilt, the whole word has a tendency of "falling to the left" in an instant, and the center of gravity seems to be a little to the left, resulting in a sense of movement.
On the left, the center of gravity must be on the right → stationary.
On the right, the center of gravity is on the right, as if falling to the left → dynamic.
According to the definition of quantity distribution, the center of gravity on the right side is still on the right side (the right side has a large quantity), but the illusion that the center of gravity shifts to the left is caused by horizontal inclination.
I call it "the wrong shift of center of gravity".
The wrong movement of the center of gravity is mainly accomplished by lateral inclination.
The center of gravity is too right → horizontal tilt/center of gravity tends to move to the left.
In that case, you would have known. Remember the "heavy", "wood" and "army" in front?
Mifei is an expert in designing the dynamic balance of the center of gravity. Please learn more.
Fragments of Tiaoxi Poems by Mi Fei.
abstract
We might as well go deeper. The essence of the center of gravity is the distribution of quantity, which is "Yin and Yang" in the words of the ancients, and the so-called "dynamic balance" is "neutralization of Yin and Yang". First of all, there must be differences (two sides of contradiction, such as size, hidden dew, shade, Fiona Fang, positive slope, etc. ). If there is no difference, make a difference. If the difference is not enough, it is necessary to expand the difference. Finally, this difference is solved, and the levels are extremely rich and the elements are extremely harmonious, which is the highest realm of calligraphy.
Yes.
One yin and one yang are called Tao. (the book of changes? On the copula ")
"Artists have the shape of pottery."
-Liu Xizai's Art Outline