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