What is a running script?

Running script is a font between running script and regular script. Its characteristic is to use Lian Bi properly and save strokes on the premise of keeping the outline of regular script, which is the most practical one. It has been 1700 years since Wang Xizhi wrote Preface to Lanting. The three most famous calligraphers in the history of calligraphy in China and their most influential calligraphy works are all running scripts. Wang Xizhi's Preface to Lanting is regarded as the best running script in the world. Yan Zhenqing's Manuscript for Sacrificing a Nephew is known as the second running script in the world. Su Dongpo's Cold Food Post is known as the third running book in the world. Until now, celebrity inscriptions and merchant plaques are almost all running scripts. Running script is a kind of calligraphy with the best combination of practicality and artistry and the widest scope of application. The regular script of the parents of the students present may not be as good as yours, but everyone can write running script. There are the most people who write running scripts, but the more you go up, the harder it is. There is a big gap between being able to write and writing well. This gap is difficult to describe, because the concept and standard of reading calligraphy are different. Running script has the characteristics of both regular script and cursive script, but it is by no means that you can write beautiful running script by writing regular script well. As the most practical and independent script, how should we learn it? In fact, there are no strict writing rules for running scripts. Those with many regular script elements and few cursive script elements are called running scripts. A cursive script with less regular script and more cursive script is called cursive script.

Pay attention to the following points when learning running script:

First, we should get rid of the rules of regular script;

When practicing regular script, I told you to hide the brushstroke, there should be changes in lifting and pressing at the turning point, first complete the ticked strokes, pick them out, and so on. These essentials should be tried to get rid of and forget when writing running script. For example, comparing regular script to martial arts routines, then running script is Sanda, and you can't start from scratch for every move and every style, so you should pay attention to fluency. Hard-pen running script advocates smooth writing and standard fonts, which is a good running script.

The second is to copy carefully.

To learn running script well, we must go through special copying training and master its brushwork and writing rules. Find yourself a good copybook when copying. Danbabei in Zhao Mengfu is a good copybook, which can be used to practice calligraphy, and can also be used to practice hard pen calligraphy by copying. Hard-pen calligraphers such as Lu Zhongnan, Ding Yongkang and Wu Yusheng can write copybooks temporarily. Practicing both Chinese calligraphy and hard calligraphy is very beneficial to learning calligraphy and can complement each other. The brush calligraphy is carefully carved, and the hard pen calligraphy is repeatedly pondered, from big to small, and then from small to big, which is very conducive to strengthening the understanding of calligraphy learning.

The third is to read the post.

There are only two ways to practice calligraphy: temporary posting and post reading, and it is particularly important to practice calligraphy and post reading. Tian, the plaque writer of our painting and calligraphy class, is my good friend and has similar hobbies. His method of practicing calligraphy is to read posts, rarely stick posts, and his handwriting is flowing in one go. Originally written in official script, but the running script is also very good. Learn calligraphy from regular script as well as official script. It is easy for people who write official script to make a mistake, that is, the running script is often not well written, while Mr. Tian's running script is profound and graceful. According to himself, his method is to read posts.

The fourth is to practice frequently.

Running script has an adaptation stage at the beginning. If you feel ashamed of your poor writing, it doesn't matter. You can practice in your notebook, or you can practice writing with lines for yourself when you are writing a diary. Practice makes perfect. From a word to a paragraph, from a few words to a word, I gradually mastered the rules of running script and gradually formed my own running script style. Be good at absorbing nutrition from many aspects, such as celebrity inscriptions, corporate plaques, school teachers and even classmates. As long as you observe carefully, you can find good words written by others, and when you learn them, they will become your words.