There are many great calligraphers in Chinese history. The well-known ones include Yan Zhenqing, Wang Xizhi, Su Dongpo, Ouyang Xun, Liu Gongquan, Zhang Xu, etc. The following are three stories about them.
1. The story of Wang Xizhi washing the ink pond.
Wang Xizhi has been practicing calligraphy since he was a child. When he was 7 years old, he was already very good at writing. After continuing to practice for four or five years, I always feel that there is not much progress.
One day, he found a book called "Bi Tan" in his father's pillow. It was all about writing methods. He was so happy that he found a treasure and started reading it secretly.
Just when he was enjoying reading, his father came and asked, "Why did you steal the secretary from my pillow?" Xizhi smiled and did not answer. Wanting to smooth things over for him, his mother interjected: "Are you trying to figure out how to use a pen?" His father thought that he was too young to be able to read, so he took the book back and said to him: "Wait for you. I will teach you to read when you grow up."
Wang Xizhi said unhappily: "If I wait until I grow up to pay attention to writing skills, then my time these few years will be in vain. Is it a waste? Let me learn it now, so as not to fumble blindly without knowing the method. "My father heard that what he said was reasonable, so he gave him the book.
So Wang Xizhi practiced hard every day according to the methods in the book. Soon, his calligraphy made significant progress. However, Wang Xizhi did not Not satisfied with the progress he had made. Once, he saw the calligraphy of Zhang Zhi, a calligrapher of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and couldn't put it down. Zhang Zhi's cursive writing was so good that people called him the "Sage of Cursive".
Wang Xizhi not only admired his calligraphy, but also admired his tenacious spirit of practicing calligraphy by "learning calligraphy in the pond, when the water is all black". In a letter to a friend, Wang Xizhi wrote: "Zhang Zhi practiced calligraphy by the water of the pond. , even the water in the pool turned black. If people also put in such deep efforts to practice, they may not be able to catch up with Zhang Zhi. ”
From then on, Wang Xizhi wrote quickly every day. After finishing writing, he went to the pool in front of his house to rinse his pen. Over time, the water in the pool became black, and people called this pool the "ink pool".
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According to records, Wang Xizhi has his ink pool in Lanting, Shaoxing, Xincheng Mountain in Linchuan, Jiangxi, Jigu Mountain in Yongjia, Zhejiang, and Guizong Temple in Lushan, Jiangxi.
Wang Xizhi studied hard and practiced calligraphy. He learned from Zhang Zhi in cursive calligraphy and Zhong Yao in formal calligraphy. He also learned from others' strengths and introduced new ones. Finally, he formed his own unique style and created a beautiful and fluent modern calligraphy. Later people called him the "Sage of Calligraphy". ".
2. The story of Liu Gongquan working hard to practice calligraphy.
One day, Liu Gongquan and several friends held a "book meeting". At this time, an old man selling tofu saw The few words he wrote were "I know how to write about the Feifeng family and I dare to praise it in front of others." He felt that the child was too proud, so he frowned and said, "These words are not well written. They are as soft as my tofu." He's collapsed and has no muscles or bones. Is he still worthy of being praised in front of others?"
When Xiao Gongquan heard this, he said unhappily: "If you have the ability, write a few words and let me see. The old man smiled heartily and said, "I don't dare, I don't dare. I'm a rough man and can't write well." However, there are people who can write much better with their feet than you! If you don’t believe me, go to Huajing City and have a look. "
The next day, Xiao Gongquan woke up at five o'clock and went to Huajing City alone. As soon as he entered Huajing City, he saw many people gathered under a big locust tree. He squeezed into the crowd , I saw a thin black old man with no beard and arms, sitting on the ground with bare feet, pressing paper with his left foot, and holding a pen with his right foot. He was writing couplets freely. The handwriting looked like a group of galloping horses and flying dragons and phoenixes, which attracted onlookers. The crowd cheered.
The young man knelt down in front of the old man and said, "I would like to become your teacher. Please tell me the secret of writing..." The old man hurriedly pulled with his feet. Qi Xiao Gongquan said: "I am a lonely person. I was born without hands. I have to rely on my skills to make a living. How can I be a role model for others?" He took out a piece of paper and wrote a few words with his right foot: "Write eight tanks of water, and the inkstone will dye the pond black; win hundreds of parents, and then you will have dragons and phoenixes flying." "Liu Gongquan kept the old man's words in mind and worked hard to practice calligraphy from then on. Thick calluses grew on his hands, and his clothes and elbows were patched up layer after layer. After hard practice, Liu Gongquan finally became a famous calligrapher in our country.
< p>3. The story of Yan Zhenqing.Yan Zhenqing was a famous calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. In order to learn calligraphy, Yan Zhenqing first studied under Chu Suiliang and later became a disciple of Zhang Xu.
Zhang Xu was the leading calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. He could write in various handwritings and was especially good at cursive script.
Yan Zhenqing hoped that under the guidance of this famous teacher, he would quickly learn the skills of writing and become famous in one fell swoop. But after becoming a disciple, Zhang Xu did not reveal any secrets of calligraphy. He just introduced some famous calligraphy books to Yan Zhenqing, briefly pointed out the characteristics of the calligraphy books, and asked Yan Zhenqing to copy them.
Sometimes, he took Yan Zhenqing to climb mountains, swim, go to markets, and watch plays. After returning home, he would let Yan Zhenqing practice calligraphy, or watch him write quickly. A few months later, Yan Zhenqing couldn't get the teacher's calligraphy secrets, so he decided to ask the teacher directly.
One day, Yan Zhenqing plucked up the courage and said with a blushing face: The student has something to ask for, please teach the teacher the secret of calligraphy. Zhang Xu replied: "To learn calligraphy, one must work hard, that is, study hard and practice hard; the other must be understanding, that is, receiving inspiration from all phenomena of nature. Haven't I told you these many times?"
Yan Zhenqing After hearing this, he thought that the teacher was unwilling to teach the secret, so he took a step forward, Shili and begged: "I know all the principles of engineering and learning that the teacher said. What I need most now is the teacher's secret recipe for writing and writing, please give me your advice. ”
Zhang Xu still patiently enlightened Yan Zhenqing: “I observed the meaning of brushwork when I saw the princess fighting for the way with the carrier, and I learned the charm of writing when I saw Lady Gongsun dancing with a sword. In addition to practicing hard, I also observed nature. There are no other tricks." Then he told Yan Zhenqing the story of how Wang Xizhi, the calligrapher of the Jin Dynasty, taught his son Wang Xianzhi to practice calligraphy.
Finally, seriously: If there is any ‘secret’ to learning calligraphy, it is to study hard and practice hard. Remember, those who do not work hard will not achieve anything. Yan Zhenqing was greatly inspired by the teacher's teachings, and he truly understood the way to study.
From then on, he studied hard, studied hard, and learned the charm of brushwork from life. He made rapid progress and eventually became a great calligrapher, the first of the four major calligraphers in the Tang Dynasty.