chinese calligraphy. calligraphy,literally “beautiful writing”,is one of the traditional four...

Chinese Calligraphy

Calligraphy ,literally “beautiful writing” ,is one of the traditional four arts dating back to the earliest days of Chinese history . For the Chinese , calligraphy , the ancient art of the written word , is not just a method of communication (交流 ) but also a means of expressing the dynamic forces of the natural world . A Chinese calligrapher’s tools , like those of a painter , are comprised of four basic items that are commonly referred to as the “four treasures of the study”(文房四宝 ). They are the brush , ink , ink stone and paper .

To become an artist or expert in calligraphy , one has to practice word by word and stroke until the spirit of the practice gets into one’s mind. Just like Chinese Qigong , the Chinese brush calligraphy can temper (锻炼 ) a person into a state in which one can apply sub-consciousness (潜意识 )absorbed from daily practice to control the concentration of ink and the compatibility (兼容性 ) of front (字体 ) and size of each piece or word .

By controlling the concentration of ink , the thickness and absorption of the paper and the flexibility (柔性 )of the brush , the artist is free to produce an infinite (无限的 ) variety of styles and forms . In contrast to western calligraphy , diffusing ink blots and bush strokes are viewed as a natural impromptu (即兴的 )expression rather than a fault. While western calligraphy often pursues front-like uniformity, homogeneity (同质 ) of character in one size is only a craft . To the artist , calligraphy is a mental exercise that coordinates the mind and the body to choose the best styling in expressing the content of the passage . It is a most relaxing yet highly disciplined (受约束的 )exercise indeed for one’s physical and spiritual well-being . Historically , many calligraphy artists were well-known for their longevity.

Chinese calligraphy is understood in China as the art of hand with the brush . In the history of Chinese art , calligraphy has always been held in equal importance to painting . Chinese calligraphy began with the hieroglyphs (象形文字 )and , over the long ages of evolution , has developed various styles and schools, constituting an important part of the heritage of national culture . In traditional Chinese art ,calligraphy , seal and painting are all thought as parts of a complete artistic work . Chinese scripts are generally divided into five categories: the seal character (zhuan篆 ), the official or clerical script (li隶 ),the regular script (kai楷 ),the running hand (xing行 )and the cursive hand (cao 草 )

隶体

楷体

篆体

行体

草体