Chinese Calligraphy A Microcosm of Culture, An Art Form par excellence

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Chinese CalligraphyA Microcosm of Culture, An
Art Form par excellence

• San-pao Li, Ph.D.
• Department of Asian and Asian American Studies
• California State University, Long Beach

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Introduction

• Chinese calligraphy is widely recognized as a
  bona fide fine art
• Chinese calligraphy is perhaps the most
  culturally-rich form of direct artistic
  expression
• More than fair or elegant writing or penmanship
• Serves more than a linguistic purpose
• It is a highly sophisticated form of art

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Sample Calligraphy
Zhao Yong (Yuan)
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Sample Calligraphy
Yu Yue (Qing)
fragrance
antiquity/past
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Introduction

• It adds an absorbing, visual element to the
  beauty of thought
• It is a national taste, a common aesthetic
  instinct nourished from childhood
• Used to express felicitations or condolences
• An immediate expression of the character and
  sensibility of the artist
• Was the passport to successful official career

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Introduction

• Requires mental preparation -- quietude
  and serenity
• Requires mastery of literature
• Rigorous moral cultivation and fortitude
• If the mind is upright, the brush strokes will
  be right.

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The Three Forms of Fine Art in Chinese Tradition

• Poetry
• Calligraphy
• Painting
• vs.
• Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture

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Qualities of Fine Calligraphy

• The strength of bone
• Organic unity
• Rhythmic vitality

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Qualities of Fine Calligraphy

• The strength of bone
• the Yin and the Yang
• opening and closing
• void and solidity
• front and back
• rising and falling

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Sample Calligraphy
Wang Shimin (Ming)
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Sample Calligraphy
Jin Shi (Ming)
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Sample Calligraphy
Emperor Huizong (Song)
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Sample Calligraphy
Huai Su (Tang)
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Qualities of Fine Calligraphy

• Organic Unity
• Reflects the dynamism, grandeur, and
  limitlessness of the art of Chinese calligraphy

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Sample Calligraphy
Zheng Banqiao
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Sample Calligraphy
San-pao Li
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Sample Calligraphy
San-pao Li
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Sample Calligraphy
San-pao Li
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Qualities of Fine Calligraphy

• Rhythmic Vitality
• is of supreme significance
• an abundance of very fine masterpieces that
  exemplify this essential quality

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Sample Calligraphy
Huai Su (Tang)
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Sample Calligraphy
Zhang Xu (Tang)
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Sample Calligraphy
Huang Tingjian (Song)
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Sample Calligraphy
Qi Baishi
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Chinese Calligraphyas a Fine Art

• A spatial art form
• Linear arrangement and composition
• Structurally dynamic
• Most effective and direct medium of
  self-expression
• Uninhibited individual creativity
• Supreme form of visual art

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Chinese Calligraphy is a MostCulturally-Rich Art
Form

• It is history
• It is philosophy
• It is poetry
• It is literature
• It reveals the deepest emotions
• It reflects the social mores
• It manifests the ethos and values
• It captures the spirit of the time

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Appreciation of ItsPhilosophical Profundity

• It fascinates
• It stimulates
• It motivates
• It inspires
• It enlightens
• It develops depth of character in learner

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Roaming Leisurely in the Garden of Poetry

• Wintry River in Snow (Jiang Xue)
• The Deer Park Hermitage (Lu Zhai)
• Farewell to Ling Che (Song Ling Che)
• The Maple Bridge (Feng Qiao Ye Bo)
• etc.

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The Notion of Aesthetics

• The Platonic notion of the beautiful is hardly
  distinguishable from the good.
• In the Chinese consciousness, the good must
  demonstrate order and harmony.
• Harmonized state of contradictions, according to
  A. H. Muller (1779-1829), represents the highest
  good.
• Harmony is both an intrinsic quality of art and
  the sine qua non of real freedom.

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The Notion of Aesthetics

• Coincidentia Oppositorum
• Reconciliation of the Opposites

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The Notion of Aesthetics
Beauty
Goodness
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Styles of Chinese CalligraphyA Sense of History

• The oracle bone style (jiaguwen)
• The bronze and stone drum inscriptions
  (zhongdingwen, shiguwen, dazhuan)
• The seal style (xiaozhuan)
• The clerical style (lishu-Hanli, Weibei)
• The running style (xingshu)
• The cursive style (caoshu)
• The modern styles (kaishu, shoujinti,
  tiexianzhuan, bafenshu, kuangcao, etc.)

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Sample Calligraphy
Oracle Bone
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Sample Calligraphy
Dong Zuobin
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Sample Calligraphy
Sanshipan (8th-Century B.C.
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Sample Calligraphy
Wu Changshuo
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Sample Calligraphy
Yishan Bei (Qin)
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Sample Calligraphy
rocks
brooks
Lu She (Ming)
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Sample Calligraphy
Zhao Mengfu (Yuan)
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Sample Calligraphy
Caoquanbei (Han)
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Sample Calligraphy
Wang Xizhi (Jin)
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Sample Calligraphy
Liu Gongquan (Tang)
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Sample Calligraphy
Xuanzong (Tang)
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Sample Calligraphy
Yan Zhenqing (Tang)
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Sample Calligraphy
Mi Fei (Song)
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Sample Calligraphy
Huang Tingjian (Song)
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Sample Calligraphy
When I come to revisit, it appears to be
beautifully and enigmatically quaint,
The willow branches touch the clear water of the
brook by the bridge,
The sun is warm, flowers sweet, and the mountain
birds are singing incessantly.
Your old residence was west of the North Bridge
Wu Ju (Song)
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Sample Calligraphy
Su Shi (Song)
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Sample Calligraphy
Dong Qichang (Ming)
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Sample Calligraphy
Zheng Banqiao (Qing)
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Sample Calligraphy
Yin Bingshou (Qing)
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Sample Calligraphy
San-pao Li
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Sample Calligraphy
San-pao Li
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Sample Calligraphy
San-pao Li
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Sample Calligraphy
Xu Wei (Ming)
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Prerequisites of a Serious Student

• Be conversant in the classics
• Be familiar with Chinas rich poetic tradition
• Appropriate mental preparation and discipline
• Mastery of various calligraphic skills

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The Approach to Fine Calligraphy

• Copy by tracing
• Copy in a free manner
• Imitation
• Develop spontaneously ones own style,
  independent from all models.

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The Approach to Fine Calligraphy

• Proficiency is attainable only to those who
  undergo rigid, rigorous, tedious, and long
  training, including self discipline and moral
  cultivation.

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The Practice of Chinese Calligraphy

• Is a rigorous form of self-discipline and a
  delightful and fulfilling experience!

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Chinese Calligraphy

• More than any other visual art, can reveal the
  Chinese mind and represent its aesthetic ideal
• The sublime and exquisite artistry displayed in
  Chinese calligraphy compels one to study and
  experience

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Take Advantage of the Latest Computer
Technologies

• Search the internet for relevant information and
  vast number of fine calligraphic specimen
• Use software (such as CyberChinese, Dabbler) to
  practice handwriting
• Fully exploit the availability of various fonts
  for copying and practice tailored for learners
  interest
• Explore multimedia capabilities for poem
  recitation and individualized instruction