What is Chinese Calligraphy?
Chinese calligraphy (Brush calligraphy) is an art unique to Asian cultures. According to legend, Chinese calligraphy had been found out at three thousand years ago while the Chinese character and writing was invented five thousand years ago. It is a traditional four arts, in the imperial era, it is a very important criterion for selection of executives to the Imperial court and now not only prevails in China but around the world as a unique art.
Chinese calligraphy (Brush calligraphy) is an art unique to Asian cultures. According to legend, Chinese calligraphy had been found out at three thousand years ago while the Chinese character and writing was invented five thousand years ago. It is a traditional four arts, in the imperial era, it is a very important criterion for selection of executives to the Imperial court and now not only prevails in China but around the world as a unique art.
Unlike other visual art techniques, all calligraphy strokes are permanent and incorrigible, demanding careful planning and confident execution. Such are the skills required for an administrator / executive. While one has to conform to the defined structure of words, the expression can be extremely creative. To exercise humanistic imagination and touch under the faceless laws and regulations is also a virtue well appreciated. ( http://www.asiawind.com/art/callig/)
By controlling the focus of ink, the thickness and adsorption of the paper itself, and the agility of the brush, the artist is free to produce endless variations of a style and form. Calligraphers have to follow strict rules. Calligrapher has to follow the same rules for thousands of years. Each character requires a certain number of brush strokes written in order to write a particular stroke. However, as handwriting and drawing, everyone seemed to be some different.
Calligraphy is an appropriate way as to maintain a healthy and positive way and to consider either relaxation or self-entertainment. Historically, calligraphy artists were well-known longevity.
Four Treasures of Study
Four Treasures of Study or Four Jewels of the Study, the indispensable tools that need to be prepare before start writing. There are expressions used to denote the brush, ink, paper and ink slab.
Brush – Make from animal hair slide into wooden or bamboo tube. For soften, white goat hair and rabbit hair will be use while for a hard and precise tip, stiff wolf hair will be use. Different material will make the calligrapher’s brush strokes looks thick and heavy.
Ink – A liquid make by soot, animal glue, incense or medicines, and sometimes preservatives. A good ink should be ground so as to be refined black with luster.
Paper – The paper been use called Xuan Zhi, a type of paper which soft, fine textured, anti-moth, a high tensile strength, the remarkable longevity of such products -. "Millennium", so it has a lasting reputation for the quality of the file depends on the processing method used to make them. Nowadays, user has more choices on the types of paper while not limited to the Xuan Zhi only.
Ink slab – It usually makes by stone, but other materials such as pottery, brick and tile are also widely used. Nowadays it hard to be found, because most of the ink comes with a bottle while user just needs to use the brush dot into the ink, then can start writing.
The Basic Stroke
Basically you can say that all modern Chinese characters are drawn with a palette consisting of eight basic strokes. Generally all strokes are painted from top to bottom and left to right – with exceptions for characters number six, which is draw upwards. In the following overview each type of stroke is shown (drawn in black color) within actual characters (drawn in grey color):
Technique and method
For complete the process in writing Chinese Calligraphy, there are certain step and technique need to be follow. There are many different methods of holding a Chinese calligraphy brush among Chinese calligraphers and common people. They may be different for various Chinese calligraphy styles in different sizes.
When started writing Chinese calligraphy, the first thing need to be do is conform yourself on sitting on the chair straight 90 degree. According to the spaces between you and the table, adjust it. Now is time to learn is how to hold the brush. Double Hook Method is the common way of writing. By stretch out the thumb, index finger and middle finger (like acting gun), kindly place the brush on top of index finger and middle finger. Then use the thumb firm it by placing the finger between the index finger and middle finger. At the same time, the brush can be slowly moved toward ring finger and little finger reinforcing the hold from behind. Be remain, the brush have to be vertical. Now, can start writing with the rules wrist need to rise and can’t touch the table surface. It might take some time to practice to write steady strokes.
 Proper postures for writing while seated.  Proper postures for writing while standing.  Holding the brush  Supported wrist method.  Raised wrist method.  Suspended wrist method. |
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