Chinese CalligraphyAlvaro Flores – 115120990024

Darpan Agarwal – 115120990017

Karolina Vukojicic – 115120990046

Darko Smilevski - 115120990129

Romy Gingras - 115120990009

Borislav Blagoev - 115120990160

Introduction about Chinese Calligraphy

• Calligraphy derived from a Greek wordmeaning beautiful writing.

• The earliest extant examples of Chinese writing are the inscriptions on oracle bones and on bronze vessels, which dates back to the Shang Dynasty.

• It originated approx. 4600 years ago.

• Wang Xian Zhi was a very famouscalligrapher. One of his most famouscalligraphy is Lan Ting Xu

• It is an art practice which manifests specific thinking style, personality , temperament(性情) and inclination(癖好）

• Chinese Calligraphy was revered in the Chinese cultural sphere, which often includes Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam.

• Calligraphy is one of the four basic skills and disciplines of the Chinese literati, together with painting (hua), stringed musical instruments (qin) and board games (qi).

Popularity of Chinese calligraphy

Four treasures文房四宝

• Four treasures are used in Chinese and other East Asian calligraphic traditions and painting

• Chengyu stands for brush, ink stick, paper and ink stone

Brush 笔

• Brushes are made from animal hair; brush handles are constructed from bamboo, sandalwood, jade

• Different brushes are used for different styles of calligraphy and writing – specific ink capacity, distinct brush strokes

• The most famous brushes are a mix of yellow weasel, goat and rabbit hair, known as Hubi (Zhejiang)

Ink stick 墨

• The ink stick is the unique pigment used for Chinese traditional painting and calligraphy

• Modern ink sticks are made of glue, soot, and spice mixture, which is then pressed into shape and allowed to dry

• Best ink sticks are often decorated with poems, calligraphy, painted, and highly collectable

Paper 纸

• Paper is one of the most famous Chinese inventions, invented by Cai Lun in 105

• The quality of the paper depends on the processing methods used to produce it

• The highest valued paper is Xuanzhi(Anhui) - soft, fine-textured, moth resistant, has a high tensile strength and remarkable longevity

Ink stone 砚

• Ink stone is used to grind the ink stick into powder, which is then mixed with water (slightly salty) in order to produce usable ink for calligraphy

• The earliest known ink stones date back to the Han dynasty, but the production of ink stones reached its zenith in the Tang and Song dynasties –they became works of art

Styles of Chinese

Calligraphy

篆書 Zuan Style (Seal Style)

• The unification of Zuan Shu was in the

Chin Dynasty

• Solid and stable（结实稳定）

• Small Seal Style (Tablet Shiao Zuan 小篆)

• Great Seal Style (Da Zuan 大 篆 )

Lan Ye Tai ( 琅 琊 臺 ) & Tai San ( 泰 山 ) Tablets

隸書:Li Style(Clerical Style)

• germinated in the pre-Chin period ( 先秦時代 ).

• simplified the complicated strokes of

Zuan Shu.

• used a bend （弯）instead of making a

roundabout turn

Chin Li on bamboo rolls

草書Tsao Style(Running Style)

• It was developed almost at the same

time with Li Shu

• the most simplified

• abstract and difficult

• "the Two Wangs"

( 二 王 )

行書 Hsin Style(Walking Style)

• A style in between Tsao and Kai Styles

• established in the Han Dynasty

• write fast，freely expressed

• Hsin Tsao Shu ( 行 草 書 )

• Hsin Kai Shu ( 行 楷 書 ).

Zhong Yao’s work in Hsin Kai Shu

楷書Kai Style(Standard Style)

• Initiated（创始）toward the end of the Han Dynasty. （by 王次仲）

• symmetrical strokes （笔划整齐对称）

• A reference standard for modern Chinese characters handwriting, also develop another handwriting —— pen writing.

• Marks the final shape of Chinese characters.

Madame Wei’s small-scale Kai Shu

Interview with Daniele CaccinAssitant of Calligraphy Master

Q: “What is your favourite calligraphy style?”

• CURSIVE• With the most different aesthetic

aspects• Abstract – Made of simple lines• High aesthetic requirements

Q: “What does calligraphy mean for Chinese Culture?”

• Started in Han dynasty (research the origin of characters)• Most ancient – Shang Dynasty• Everywhere in Chinese society

Q: “Evolution of calligraphy over the past century?”• Beginning of 20th Century

simplification of characters

• Development of traditional Chinese calligraphy by calligraphy masters, such as MAO ZEDONG and QIGONG

Q: “Important set phrase”

• 知识无涯 : Knowledge are boundless• Zhuangzi: Chinese collection of anecdotes and fables

Q: “What skillset do you need to become a calligraphy master, and how long can it take?”

• Very difficult and long route• Many years to master the most important calligraphy copybooks• A lot of practice• Reading of classical books• Around 20 years to become a very good master

CONCLUSION• One of the best ways to

understand Chinese Culture

• High difficulty level

• Calligraphy Masters are highly valued in the society

• Led to the development of many forms of art, such as• Seal carving• Ornate paperweights• Ink stones

“Calligraphy is sheer life experienced through energy in

motion that is registered as traces on silk or paper, with time

and rhythm in shifting space its main ingredients.”

Thank you!

陈洁薇卫婧王俊苏晏红鸿