First, the characteristics of Ou Yangxun regular script
I won't list them one by one. As far as his regular script is concerned, we briefly summarize the following characteristics:
1, steep and straight;
2, elegant and beautiful, thin and handsome;
3. The rules are correct and meticulous;
4, the size method, patchwork.
We will discuss the above characteristics one by one in future lectures, so I won't say much here. In a word, knowing the characteristics of European sports before studying is of great benefit to our study. Practicing calligraphy is practicing heart. Only when you understand your own mind can you write your own words.
Second, why should we learn regular script first when learning calligraphy?
1. Why do you have to learn regular script first? It seems that this question is a cliche, and many people, especially those who often write, have many misunderstandings and prejudices about it. Some people say that the development of China characters from ancient Chinese characters to Oracle Bone Inscriptions, from Oracle Bone Inscriptions to Da Zhuan, from Da Zhuan to Xiao Zhuan, from Xiao Zhuan to Li Shu and from Li Shu to regular script is based on this procedure. So practice Chinese characters according to this procedure.
I think there are several problems worthy of attention in this statement. One is a matter of time. Life is only a few decades, and life doesn't give us that long. If I want to specialize in regular script, according to this procedure, I should start with ancient Chinese characters, then decades of ancient Chinese characters, Oracle Bone Inscriptions, Da Zhuan, Xiao Zhuan and Li Shu, and then regular script is too few, which is not acceptable, which is empty and unrealistic dogmatism; "
Another question is whether there are any examples for reference. Anyone who knows a little about calligraphy will know that Oracle Bone Inscriptions was discovered at the end of the invitation. Although Oracle Bone Inscriptions wrote it thousands of years ago, it goes without saying that he had to learn to copy it in the Jin and Tang Dynasties, and even Oracle Bone Inscriptions didn't know what he was. At that time, people saw the earliest characters, namely calligraphy, such as Da Zhuan and Jin Wen. Calligraphers at that time and even later calligraphers did not practice calligraphy according to the development context of characters, so it is untenable to practice calligraphy according to the development context of characters.
Some people say, can we just write cursive script instead of regular script? Of course, this is also possible, but there is a question required by the level standard, that is to say, what level do you require yourself to write? Many people have written all their lives, but they just can't reach a high level. When they wrote for a while, they couldn't write any more. Why? It is often caused by the poor foundation of regular script, that is, his basic skills are not enough. Let's take a look at Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi, Ou Yangxun, Yu Shinan, Chu Suiliang, Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan, Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fei, Zhao Mengfu, Zheng Banqiao and other first-class calligraphers. Everyone has a solid foundation of regular script, and they all have their own unique calligraphy style because the standard of regular script has reached the point of perfection. Therefore, we say that although we can practice calligraphy without writing regular script, the level of calligraphy without regular script foundation will not be too high.
2. The development of Chinese characters has a characteristic: the strokes are getting simpler and simpler, the techniques are getting more and more complicated, and the writing style is getting more and more difficult. For those complicated writing techniques, the emergence of regular script should be the peak. Specifically, regular script includes all strokes in calligraphy, such as hidden front, exposed front, center, oblique front, contracted front, wrapped front, Lian Bi, pen stop, pen drawing, pen breaking, pen kneeling, pen hitting, needle hanging, exposure hanging, dark, long staying, horizontal head, vertical head, left head, right head, left head and nothing. These skills can be used in regular script. Learning regular script first is actually starting from the rules to know and understand what is * * * and what is the recognized law? What are the necessary laws?
Third, why do you want to learn Ou Yangxun's regular script?
It is undoubtedly correct to learn calligraphy from regular script, but whether it is necessary to learn European style first depends on your own actual and objective conditions. Before learning European sports, there are several things to know and refer to.
1, Ou Yangxun was listed as the first of the four masters in the early Tang Dynasty in history, and was recognized as the "crown of calligraphy". "Continued Books and Discontinuities" said that he was "an outstanding contemporary, famous in the early Tang Dynasty, handed down from generation to generation, and people thought it was the law." Since the Tang Dynasty, calligraphers have praised Ou Yangxun in countless ways. Of course, these praises not only refer to Ou Yangxun's regular script, but also highly praise his other calligraphy styles. What we mainly talk about is the affirmation and recognition of Ou Yangxun's art by the calligraphy circle. Pulse Repetition Frequency (pulse repetition frequency)
2. Since the Tang Dynasty, there have been many generations of people who have studied Europe, and there are many talents. People who are famous for learning Europe abound. Since the Tang Dynasty, many calligraphers have had the experience of learning European style. Practice has proved that learning European sports is a feasible way to success and realize the ideal. ：
By the way, there are four styles of regular script: European, Yan, Liu and Zhao. Then is it ok to learn other regular script? My answer is, of course, not just. If you want to be a real calligrapher, you must learn thoroughly. It's not just this kind of books. As long as it is handed down from history, you should learn. Although I mainly study European style, I have also studied Yan style, Liu style and Zhao Ti before, which can be proved by reading my words.
According to my own learning experience, here are a few questions for your reference only. First of all, talk about Yan Ti: Yan Zhenqing's regular script is no less than Ou Yangxun's regular script in terms of technique, level, influence and contribution to later generations. Since the Tang Dynasty, many people have studied Yan, and many people have become famous for studying Yan. But I always think that it is not appropriate for children, especially children of several years old, to learn beauty from the beginning, especially those girls. Because Yan Ti is simple and old, Gu Zhuo is generous, simple and dignified. It is difficult for young children to understand ancient Gu Zhuo. It's not too late when you are older and have a certain foundation. Besides Liu Ti, Liu Gongquan is definitely a great man. His regular script is vigorous and well-structured, and his pen is as good as Fiona Fang's. He formed his own school and was called Liu Ti, which had a great influence on later generations. However, there is an objective phenomenon that not many people learn willow and even fewer become famous. Not that Liu is in poor health, but why there is no heir? I can't tell you why, but it's an objective reality. I hope everyone can understand this.
Finally, let me talk about Zhao Kai and Zhao Mengfu, whose calligraphy is almost catching up with Wang Xizhi. They are first-class masters not only in calligraphy, cursive script, seal script and official script, but also in regular script. His calligraphy is chic and elegant, delicate and elegant, elegant and graceful, tall and straight, which has a great influence on future generations. But not suitable for beginners, Zhao Kai should not be the first choice. Because he is too indulgent, too natural and unrestrained, with more personality and less sex. Beginners should follow the rules first, enter the norms first, and then study after finding a certain foundation.
The four regular scripts of Europe, Yan, Liu and Zhao have their own styles and characteristics. However, if you don't learn well, it is easy to have problems. For example, bad writing in European style will be particularly stiff, bad writing in Yan style will be particularly stupid, bad writing in Liu style will be particularly weak, and bad writing in Zhao Ti will be particularly slippery. Bone, Zhao Ti as flesh, is the most ideal calligraphy style.
What I said above is by no means my personal prejudice. A large number of examples prove that learning from Ou Kai is a practical way to get started, which is an indisputable fact. We can't distort the true meaning of art because of personal likes and dislikes, let alone mislead others with our own efforts.
4. What pen should Ou Kai use?
Many friends have asked me this question, what kind of brush should I use to write European style? Is it made of wool or wolf hair? A friend asked me, what pen did Ou Yangxun use at that time? What pen are you using? Wait a minute.
In principle, what kind of pen to use is a matter of habit. No matter what kind of brush you use, just get used to it. Specifically, the wool is too soft and the wolf hair is too hard. The pens I use are usually double-stranded brushes, that is, wool and wolf hair and mixed pens. Personally, I think this pen is easier to use. Note that the nib should not be too long and the bristles should not be too small. As for what kind of pen Ou Yangxun used at that time, there is no evidence to test, but according to historical data, it is likely to be a purple brush, that is, a rabbit brush. Wool brushes were only used in the Northern Song Dynasty. Although it was earlier, it was not used in the court and ruling class at that time, but in purple. In addition, judging from Ou Yangxun's handwriting, it is basically certain that he used a purple brush.
Many friends complain that the pen is too difficult to use now. No matter what kind of pen is expensive and beautiful, it doesn't work well. This is an objective reality, and I feel the same way. I have been worried about the quality of this pen. These pens sold in the market now, no matter what kind of pens, have such and such problems. Some pens write horizontally and vertically, but they can't be written; Some people want to write a little line to check, which is an objective reality. The quality of pen is not only the technical problem of the author, but also the quality and quality of the author.
In order to write a good European style, pay attention to whether the pen holder is straight when choosing a pen; Second, it depends on whether the pen belly is round or not; Third, the pen should not be too long; The fourth is to write a written test. You can check the quality of this pen by writing a "nine" tick.
Wash the brush out after writing, and be sure to clean it, because there is glue in the ink, which will damage the brush hair after a long time, so we should develop the habit of cherishing the pen.
In addition, for writing, the pen is important, but it is secondary to the hand. Everyone should believe that the same pen, different hands will write different words. When we want to solve the pen problem, we should try our best to solve the hand problem.
Verb (abbreviation of verb) about writing.
In principle, no matter how you write, as long as you write the words well, they are all correct.
The problem of writing with a pen has been debated since ancient times. In history, some calligraphers told people how to hold a pen and talked about many rules. However, some calligraphers, such as Su Dongpo, said: "There is no fixed method for writing, so it is advisable to be open-minded." Just be careful that your fingers are not too tight and your palms are not too tight. In fact, Su Dongpo's "writing without a definite method" is also a method, but "empty and wide" is not a method. "Law" is necessary, and "law" means law, rules and regulations. As the saying goes, "Fiona Fang can't be made without rules", which is the truth.
As for the height of writing, there are also different opinions, but each has its own reasons. For example, Yu Shinan said in "On the Essence of Pen": "The pen is no more than six inches long and the grip is no more than three inches. It's true, line two, grass three. " He said that the position of holding the pen should not be higher than three inches from the bristles. Write regular script in one inch, running script in two inches and cursive script in three inches. What he said is very reasonable. Although everyone's hands are different in size, they should be basically the same.
When writing Ou Kai, the pen should not be too high, and the pen tube should be as vertical as possible. Writing below block letters can bend the desk at the elbow, but try to raise the wrist as high as possible without affecting the swing.
Six, about Lin Tie
Lin Tie is the most important way to learn calligraphy. Its purpose is to learn skills and statutes from ancient inscriptions, and to understand and grasp the essence of calligraphy. Because there are Jinshan and Yuhai, which are inexhaustible treasures. Deciding the level of a calligrapher is often reflected in the basic skills of attachment. Please note that when I say tablet, I mean tablet left by the ancients, not today's calligraphy. This is because all arts have to be recognized by history, condensed and tested by time. Today's calligraphy has not gone through this essential procedure, and it can only be used as a reference, not as a model. What's more, today's calligraphy in China is being impacted and influenced by the economic tide, which is at the lowest point in history.
On the issue of posting, there are two aspects that are most prone to mistakes:
First, retreat from difficulties. Because of the boredom and freedom, people who have never been to a post can't imagine and understand it. This is the biggest "slaughterhouse" for learning calligraphy, and more than 90% of beginners are "sacrificed" here. Most of them retreat because of difficulties and give up because of boredom.
The second is graffiti. It is also because I can't stand the boredom and bondage of my post and think about "innovation" and "my own style" in a self-righteous way, so I kick the stumbling block, break the old rules and blindly "create" new things. Actually, to be precise, this is graffiti. The result must be nothing. Because the improvement of any technical skills is honed in a painful environment.
Since it is a temporary post, we should be loyal to it and don't always think about how to "transform" it. Even if you think the words on the post are not good-looking, you must not change them, because the "bad" you see may not be correct. You're welcome to say that all the inscriptions recognized by history are very difficult for us today, especially for beginners. It is absolutely ignorant to want to modify or discard them.
History has proved that the ancients left us no room for only one thing-calligraphy.
A beginner asked, is there a shortcut to learning calligraphy? Frankly, no, it's not true! If I have to say what a shortcut is, I can only regret to say that not taking a shortcut may be the best shortcut.
In a word, calligraphy research is a scientific and serious problem. Especially regular script, its solemnity and precision, its profundity and breadth, its preciseness and statutes, do not allow us to slack off and correct at all. All beginners and researchers interested in regular script should first understand that regular script is not a lie!