Section I. Introduction
First, hard practice does not necessarily get started
Practice brush lettering as long as you are willing to learn, willing to put in the effort to practice, it is certain that you can learn. But the method must be correct, or it will backfire. There was once an old gentleman who brought a volume of cursive works to ask Mr. Lin Sanzhi, a great master of contemporary cursive writing, to teach him, and Sanweng looked through them carefully, one by one, and when he finished reading them, he just nodded his head and returned the volume to the old gentleman, without saying a word. When that old gentleman left, Lin said, "This man is still turning outside the door." His words were quite surprising. Such an old gentleman, who had attended private school since childhood, must have practiced brush lettering, and could already write a hand of cursive script with "dragon flying and phoenix dancing", but after practicing all his life, he was still a layman. If the visitor is a young man, Lin Lao will not hesitate to tell him to put on the brakes, do not write cursive, quickly write the regular script, it is not too late to save. And the old man walked a lifetime of detours, has been "seriously ill", and then asked him to learn from scratch to practice the regular script, one is embarrassing, two is too deep habits, it is too late. Therefore, the old man Lin both inconvenient to criticize, but also unwilling to say compliments against their will.
This incident illustrates the writing of brush characters rely solely on hard practice is not enough, but also must master the correct method. This is also the same as learning martial arts, once out of habit, it is very difficult to change, so there is "easy to learn boxing change boxing difficult" said.
Albert Einstein has a formula for success: success = the right way + hard work. This formula also applies to learning to write.
Any skill has the difference between an expert and an amateur. An insider is a master of the art, mastering the basic laws and regulations. The old man mentioned above has not yet mastered the basic laws and regulations of brush lettering, and does not know what is right and what is wrong, what is beautiful and what is ugly. That's why Lin said he was a layman.
Second, the way to get started
Ancient people say: "The master introduces the door, the practice is in itself." Of course, there is a teacher is certainly better, if there is no suitable teacher, buy books to self-study, can also help you master the most basic laws of the law of the brush character. You can also worship the ancients to learn the art, which is called "take the law on the call, only to get which, take the law on the call, only to get its next". This means that if you worship a superior teacher, you will be able to achieve moderate results. If you worship a medium teacher, you can only get the lower grade. The good posts of the ancients are all superior, and you should worship them as your teacher. Ancient calligraphers have handed down countless famous monuments good post , can stand on the heels and not be eliminated are personality, specialties can ferry you into the good teacher. Of course, it is not just to take the book post practice can come out. This is also a matter of priority, suitable for you, just like the pharmacy medicine can cure the disease, but can not be randomly eaten, but also have to treat the symptoms of the disease.
For beginners, what is appropriate to learn? From ancient times to the present day light font on the seal script, official script, regular script, cursive, cursive, in the end the first to learn which font is good? Calligraphers have their own opinions on this issue. Those who advocate learning from seal script and clerical script think that seal script and clerical script are ancient and the foundation should be learned from the source, but many of us beginners don't even know the seal script, so we have to know the seal script first, which is difficult to a certain extent. Some people say that it is easy to learn running script first, is it possible? Su Shi, a great calligrapher of the Song Dynasty, once said that regular script is like standing, running script is like walking, cursive script is like running, and I have never seen a person who can run even if he can't stand still. This analogy is very appropriate, he is opposed to the beginning of the study of cursive, he believes that we must first learn to stand, to be stable and then slowly learn to walk, and so walk very smoothly, and then learn to run, so learning calligraphy should start with the regular script. To be learned in the Regular Script penmanship to hand, the frame is stable, and then learn to walk, cursive. Learning to write is like learning to walk. Must walk step by step, can not jump to walk, or will fall.
The second section of the selection of post
First, the classification of the regular book and selection of post
Historically, the book is good at writing the regular book is indeed a lot, according to the stylistic characteristics can be roughly divided into four categories.
l, the Jin Dynasty Regular Book Jin Dynasty Regular Book to Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi father and son of the Regular Book works as a representative.
2, the early Tang Dynasty Regular Script The early Tang Dynasty Regular Script is represented by the Regular Script works of Ouyang Xun, Yu Shi Nan, Zhu Suiliang, and Xue Ji.
3, Middle and Late Tang Dynasty Regular Script Middle and Late Tang Dynasty Regular Script represented by Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan's Regular Script works.
4, the Wei monument Regular Script Wei monument is the Northern Wei Dynasty before and after the calligraphy style similar to the cliff rock carvings, tombstone plate stone carvings of the general term.
The above four types of Regular Script will be in the ninth chapter of the special introduction, not repeated here.
These four types of regular script can be said to be a good post, but what is more suitable for beginners? Let us make a comparison. Jin Kai is the source of the Regular Script, the ancient method is complete, learn not to vulgar, but currently see the Jin Kai for the lowercase, together with the hand to learn small words, I'm afraid that beginners are difficult to master. The early Tang Dynasty Regular Script is the right way, their form has been very perfect, but survived to this day is the middle regular, the start and end of the pen is not clear, difficult to learn. Wei Bei is also good. Body strong and strong, high and full of rhyme, but the stone is broken, beginners tend to be broken with the point of painting can not distinguish and difficult to figure out. Generally speaking, the beginning of the brush from the late Tang Dynasty Regular Script to start, one is a large, clear strokes, the second is less broken monument, there will be no deviation.
Second, from Yan, Liu to start to pay attention to matters
From Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan's Regular Script to start is the Ming and Qing Dynasty calligraphers summarized experience. Yan, Liu's Regular Script has a clear action of lifting and pressing the pen, the law is more perfect, can be corrected just like writing pen characters like the problem of hand-drawing. The Yan style is atmospheric, majestic and thick, and is the right way for the Regular Script. The Liu Style is thin and strong, and the brushwork is especially elaborate. Dong Qichang, a calligrapher of the Ming Dynasty, had the experience that "from now on, I must not give up the willow method and tend to the right army (Wang Xizhi)". Feng Ban of the Ming Dynasty also said, "Yan Shu is better than Liu Shu, but Liu Shu method is very ready to learn". Learning willow can get bones, learning to get bones first. Therefore, we can choose one of Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan's regular script masterpieces to start.
Yan Zhenqing's masterpiece "Yan Qinli Stele", and Liu Gongquan's masterpiece "Xuan Secret Tower Stele", is a good post for primary and secondary school students and beginners to learn brush lettering.
Before practicing the Yan and Liu characters, it is also necessary to have a comprehensive understanding of the Yan and Liu regular script, because everything is divided into two, it has a good side, but there are also shortcomings. Yan, Liu Regular Script bone force robust, to square pen-based, rigorous brushwork, but some strokes also because of over-emphasis into the shortcomings and drawbacks. For example, the heavy pause at their turns and picks is not only the style of Yan and Liu's characters, but also what Mitty, a Song Dynasty calligrapher, called "ugly and strange". This is what we must pay attention to when practicing. We should not only get their brushwork, but also not further strengthen their "ugly and strange" characteristics. If they seek to look like and develop their hard and harsh, it will be Yan, Liu written as imitation Microsoft Ya black characters, this is a beginner must be warned. The purpose of our post is to get the brushwork, to develop a correct and good habits. Now there is a common problem in the primary and secondary school brush character teaching, that is, dead learning Yan, Liu, only to seek similarity, and then learn the next difficult step in the line of calligraphy, which is contrary to the purpose of learning Yan, Liu.
"Get fish forget chyuan" is an idiom we all know. Chyuan" is a bamboo cage for fishing. If you want to catch fish, you have to have a fishing tool "chyuan". But after catching a fish, you can't hold on to the "chyuan" and not let go. Practice Yan, Liu is the same, its form is "chyuan", its brushwork is "fish". Through practicing Yan. Liu to get the brushwork, not just the form.
What is the meaning of "elegance" in calligraphy?
There is a deep academic background for the term "elegant and correct" in Southern Song lexicography. In terms of its roots, "Ya Zheng" said the theoretical basis of the theory is a strong color of science since the South Duo "Zongzheng" theory; in terms of its theoretical characteristics, "Ya Zheng" said the center of gravity does not lie in the establishment of a theory of art with a rich connotation, but in the "positive" of the word world is not "right", revering the "orthodox" meaning is very strong; in terms of its academic tendency, "Ya Zheng" said quite the same as the field of science in the "Taoist" inheritance, not only has a "fixed", but also has a "fixed" and a "right", and "right". Not only is there a "fixed" "orthodox" traces of lexicography, but also has a clear inheritance system similar to the "Taoism" of science.
Sleight of hand:
There are four key points to note when holding a pen:
Fingers are solid: this means that the fingers are pressed against the barrel of the pen, making it a stable holder.
The heart of the hand is weak: it means that the palm of the hand does not need to be too tight, moderate and flexible enough to move the pen.
The back of the hand is rounded: it describes the back of the palm of the hand is rounded and vertical when holding the pen. (Do not have to be hard to support the arm round, moderate enough to allow the fingers to be flexible)
Palm vertical: means that the palm of the hand will be erected upright, so that the hand can hold the pen straight that is.
Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty said, "If the fingers are solid, the muscles will be even, if the palm is weak, it will be easy to use. The rest of the details are up to the reader.
Wrist method:
Pillow wrist: the wrist is pillowed on the table to write, relying only on the palm of the pen, the range is small, not suitable for writing large characters.
Wrist lifting: the elbow pillow on the table to write, the range becomes larger, it is appropriate to write in the word.
Hanging wrist: lift the whole arm, the elbow posture is fixed, by the palm and shoulder pen, a large range of activities, it is appropriate to write large characters, for the most difficult of the three methods.
In addition to the need to hold the pen firmly, the support point of force, to help transport the pen, inertia in the activities, to maintain a beautiful posture, straight back and look, remember!
The tightness of the pen:
The tightness of the pen since ancient times that is, there are a variety of explanations, the tight people because of the pen to hold the tight to hold steady, not to make the word powerless, the loose people is because if you take the pen is too tight, it will make the word withered bones all exposed, no edge of the strength, in fact, they are similar in meaning, but only the focus on the point of a different thing.
The pen is too loose, easy to take off the pen, no strength in the hand, of course, can not hold steady; hold the pen too tight, it will hinder the operation, as bad. The right way to do this is to be moderately loose or tight.
Brushwork:
Brushwork is the foundation of calligraphy, if you do not know how to write, then how to write is useless. That is why calligraphy is so important. There are three ways to move the brush: one is the finger method, the second is the wrist method, the third is the elbow method. Calligrapher Zhang Tingxiang once said: "the method of running the pen has three: said finger, said elbow, said wrist; small words should be finger, in the word should be wrist, large words should be elbow, ......
Finger method:
Finger method is one of the holding method of running the pen, the practice of the left hand cushion in the right hand under. Commonly known as the pillow wrist style. It can also be replaced by placing a heavy object under the right wrist, and by doing so, the wrist is fixed, leaving only the fingers of the palm to move, so only short strokes can be written, and it is suitable for small characters. However, if you are writing small cursive characters, it is not suitable to use the pillow wrist style. Because this method is less flexible, it lacks a flow when writing and cannot express its character. In conclusion, the finger movement method is the most stable and firm when writing, and can be used as the first step of practicing the movement of the brush, and then progress to lifting the wrist or hanging the wrist, which is much easier. Therefore, the beginner when more practice.
Wrist movement method:
Wrist movement method is to fix the elbow, the wrist will be raised, generally referred to as wrist lift. This method of lifting the wrist, the range of motion is greater than the occipital wrist style, you can write a larger word in the middle. However, it is not suitable for writing large characters, because the elbow is still on the ground, the range of motion is still limited.
Elbow movement method:
Elbow movement method is suspended together with the elbow, the elbow to move the pen, generally known as hanging wrist style. And this method to the shoulder as the center, wrist and elbow are not put on the case, so the most flexible, range of activities, free, easy to show the power of the pen. Applicable to large regular script, cursive and other calligraphic styles. In short, hanging wrist is the ultimate use of the pen, if you want to be perfect, this law is not skilled, otherwise the word can not show its male power, the cursive shall not be its vertical and easy, each shall not be the essentials is also.
Essentials of strokes
The way of strokes has been talked about earlier, the next is to play its essentials, how to do a variety of strokes, performance of different styles of writing, there are many variations, as well as like the way of falling and starting strokes, the weight of the strokes of the line, the strokes or the word between the connection and break, as well as the way of the twist and turn, the use of the brush, and so on, all need to pay attention to. But much more, there is still a certain degree of law can be found, the following is divided into about seven points, a slight general categorization of the narrative:
Starting and finishing:
On the start of the brush, seek to make it clear that the square and the round are perfect and clean, Bao Shichen said: "Starting the brush: the smooth into the peaks of the no defects, the reverse into the no rise in the ink." No lack of peaks is the perfect shape, no rising ink is clean strokes, start the pen smoothly into the square, reverse into the round. When closing the brush, it is necessary to pause or fold the stroke to become a square and return the stroke to become a circle. The above points are the starting point of the principle, should be practiced more.
The lifting and pause:
When you are writing, the process of completing a word is formed by the interaction between the lifting and pause, "pause" is to press the pen down, flexing the brush to make the force on the paper. "Lifting" is to lift or half lift the pen to continue the stroke. Generally speaking, it is necessary to lift the pen after a pause in order to write, and after lifting the pen, it is necessary to pause again, so that the strokes can be shaped, or followed by the next stroke. Finally, the character takes shape. That is why it is said that calligraphic writing is an alternating process of lifting and pause. It also includes more detailed changes, for example, there is a difference between a full lift and a half lift, and there is also a difference between a light and a heavy pause. This requires the reader to experience.
Turning and folding strokes:
In addition to the above mentioned lifting and pause, the turning and pause strokes also need to be emphasized. "Turning" is the method of rounding the strokes, and "folding" is the method of drawing a square. Zhang Tingxiang once said, "True calligraphy is shaped by dots and drawings, and the nature is seen by turns and folds. Among them, as seen in the ancient books, folding can also be called flipping, and the method of expression has this sentence "trailing and adding to the top", which means stopping the brush in the middle of the line, and changing the direction of the brush slightly into a boss-like steering. This makes the outer corners of the brush become square, which is the meaning of the brush. As for the turning method, also known as "twisting", the meaning of "moving and turning down" is similar to that of "up", except that the brush does not stop turning and turns downward in the same direction, which is the same as that of "boss", but the outer corners of the brush are rounded, and the range of rotation is bigger. Chiang Menglin has illustrated this with a graphic, accompanied by a poem that reads: "Turning and bending into a right angle, twisting and turning, the heart of the millimeter rolls as if it were spinning." This example is clear.
Square and round strokes:
This part is more complex, emphasizing the overall effect. In accordance with the aforementioned starting, closing, lifting, staccato, turning, and folding, when writing, slow down the speed a bit to make the strokes more stable, and with appropriate techniques, at the starting, stopping and turning points, the strokes are medium, highlighting the curvature, so that the overall structure looks rounded and loose and superbly elegant. On the other hand, the square brush is to emphasize the bones of the strokes in the above points, so that the overall structure is clear, straight and square without losing the lightness, condensed and calm, strong and upright. Zhang Longyan said: "Square strokes are straight and precise, while round strokes are curved and strange." Extremely commendable.
Hidden front and show front:
Talking about the brush, can extend the bias front, positive front, take the front, folding front, back to the front of the law, for the use of the brush, the importance of the use of the brush, can be known. If there is no change in the calligraphy pen, that is dead. The most important thing is to hide the brush and show the brush. Hiding the strokes is to hide the strokes in the strokes, without revealing them; revealing the strokes is to reveal the strokes naturally. Xu Hao Yun: "the momentum of the brush, especially need to hide the front, if the front is not hidden, the word is sick." This sentence is very clear. Stroke is not hidden, then the lack of subtle deep rhyme, can not favor one side, then not in the way that is sick. The two have to match, hide the front package of its air, show the front of the spirit of its vertical, so that the word is upright, the rhythm of the sky, that is, to get its way.