China's Traditional Calligraphy Techniques

Technique is the practical form of calligraphy art, and it is China's writing method summarized, created and constantly improved in the long-term practice of calligraphy art. Calligraphy technique is one of the important contents of calligraphy art, and it consists of three parts: brushwork, word formation and composition. These three parts are not only independent of each other, but also interrelated and influenced each other. Section 1 brushwork brushwork refers to the method of writing correctly with a brush, which is a means to make the lines of a book meet certain aesthetic requirements. The brushwork is the core content and key point of calligraphy techniques, including writing and using a pen. First, holding a pen is the holding method of a writing brush. The correctness of writing directly affects the quality of books, so it is very important to develop correct writing methods at the beginning of learning. The ancients tried many methods of holding pens, such as single hook method, double hook method, tube clamping method, tube twisting method, pedal method, tube holding method and so on. There are many different names. Su Shi said: "There is no fixed method in writing, but it should be empty and wide." In fact, this "virtual and wide" is the method. After thousands of years of practice and the screening of countless calligraphers, a calligraphy method accepted by most calligraphers was finally summed up, that is, the five-character calligraphy method of "holding, planing, hooking, stopping and resisting" proposed by Lu Xisheng in the Tang Dynasty. "Holding" means that the inner abdomen of the first section of the thumb leans against the oblique side of the pen. "Taking the lead" refers to sticking the first section of the index finger obliquely on the outside of the pen. "Hook" means that the middle finger close to the index finger hooks the outside of the pen with the bend of the first section or the first and second sections. "Grid" refers to putting the ring finger on the pen tube and cooperating with the inward hook force of the index finger and middle finger, which not only makes the pen basically balanced, but also makes the pen more flexible. "Stretching" refers to holding the ring finger naturally with the little finger, so that the five fingers can act on the pen more harmoniously and balance the power. But it is also a five-character writing method. Because of the different angles of finger bending, the depth and tightness of writing are different, and each has its own advantages. As long as the fingers and wrists can be flexible and convenient when writing, meet the physiological structure requirements of the hand, and the pen held can be basically perpendicular to the paper, it is the correct pen holder. Whether writing small or large characters, sitting or standing, resting your wrist or hanging your wrist, you should hold the pen correctly and flexibly. After mastering the correct writing method, we should further master the correct writing method to ensure the dexterity of writing. L. Wrist pillow method: put your right hand on the table or put the back of your left hand under your right wrist, which is called wrist pillow method. At this time, the palm should be slightly upright, and the angle between the palm and the desktop is large. Generally, only about 75 degrees is suitable for writing fine print in this way. 2. Wrist hanging method The wrist is hung on the table, and the elbow pillow rests on the table, which is called wrist hanging method. At this time, the palm can be slightly flat, and the angle between the palm and the desktop is smaller than when the wrist is pillow. You can write words about five centimeters in size. 3. The elbow hanging method is that both wrists and elbows leave the desktop and the whole arm is suspended, which is called elbow hanging method. At this time, the angle between the palm and the desktop is smaller than that of the wrist hanging method. Because there are no obstacles, you can write bigger words. Generally, when writing standing up, the elbow hanging method is used. In this way, the angle between the wrist and the desktop is small, and the wrist is often naturally flat. At this time, the distance between the finger holding the pen and the palm has been opened. When writing in this posture, you can freely write all kinds of characters of different sizes. According to the size of written characters, the coordination of movements of fingers, wrists and elbows has the following rules: 1. Finger-moving method The method of writing by touching the brush with fingers is called "finger-moving method". Generally speaking, fingering should be written in small print, generally combined with pillow wrist method. 2. The method of writing with wrist movement is called "wrist movement". Wrist movement method is suitable for writing with large space; Generally, it is used in conjunction with wrist hanging method or elbow hanging method. 3. Elbow transport method The method of writing by using elbow movement is called "elbow transport method". In this way, you can write big characters, and big characters can only be written by hanging elbows, and sometimes you have to cooperate with body movements to complete writing. Generally speaking, calligraphers disapprove of writing only with finger strokes (except fine print), because the words written in this way are easy to slip, and most calligraphers agree with "pen to pen"; Of course, the subtle movements of fingers are not ruled out when lifting wrists and elbows. Writing is accomplished through the coordinated movements of fingers, wrists, arms and elbows, and nothing can be mechanically and stiffly copied. Whether the pen is tight or not is debated in ancient and modern books. Those who hold tightly advocate "using all their strength" (bag), while those who hold loosely advocate "using a pen lightly" (Mi Fei). If everyone goes to extremes, he is bound to make mistakes. It should be tight on the top and loose on the bottom. It looks tight on the top and loose on the bottom. After a long period of training, I finally reached the state of "being able to write freely and skillfully" (Tao Hongjing: talking about books with Liang Wudi), and my mind and hands are both interested. In addition, the level of writing is also related to the style and style of writing. The pen is low and the words are steady, which is suitable for writing, printing, official, line and paragraph; High pen power, elegant words, suitable for cursive or cursive. However, calmness is easy to be dull, elegance is easy to slip. Excellent calligraphy works should reach the realm of peace of mind. In addition to the correct technique, posture is also very important. There are generally two kinds of postures: sitting posture and standing posture. In addition to keeping your head straight, your body straight and your feet safe, you should also pay attention to centering your pen and straightening your arms forward. Stand at shoulder height with your feet apart, lean forward slightly and pull your arms forward. Whether you are sitting or standing, your body should be relaxed naturally and your posture should be correct in order to develop good writing habits. Second, the method of using a pen with a pen refers to the method of using a pen, that is, the operation method of bristles when stippling. The ancients attached great importance to the use of pens. In the Thirteen Postscripts of Lanting in Yuan Dynasty, Zhao Mengfu said that writing with a pen is the most important thing in calligraphy, and writing with labor is also necessary. It is not easy to use a pen through the ages. It can be seen that the pen plays an important role in the art of calligraphy. Strictly speaking, the pen can be divided into two aspects: front and thin, but in actual writing, it is difficult to completely separate the two. They are a combination of several actions, so they are combined. The methods of using the pen include middle, side, hiding, lifting, turning, translating and twisting, as well as the speed of carrying the pen, the rhythm of using the pen and the method of using ink. (A) with the front and essence.

The pen tip in the center of the length runs in the middle of stippling, which means that the movement direction of the bristles contacting the paper is consistent with the running direction of the pen. When the pen is carried in the center, because the ink stored between the bristles can be smoothly injected into the paper with the operation of the pen, round, rich and full stroke lines can be written. Cai Yong said in "Nine Potential": "The round pen belongs to paper, which makes the pen heart often point to draw." It's about a pen in the center. The nib is conical, the middle part is the thickest when it touches the paper, and it stores more ink, so the lines written can give people a three-dimensional feeling. However, the brush will appear the same "flat pen" phenomenon as the brush arrangement during operation. At this time, although it still belongs to the "middle" range, the lines of the book are thin and flat, lacking the mellow feeling of "round pen belongs to paper". Therefore, the skill of using a pen is to adjust the nib to restore and maintain the conical state. Once the pen is opened and cannot be adjusted, you need to lick it to round it. Because the center can write round and powerful lines, it can produce three-dimensional visual effects, and it is a main method of using a pen. However, it is also the center who carries the pen. Because the strength and speed of the pen used by the writer are different, the paper and pen used are different, the ink color is black and dry, and lines with different textures will also be written. This kind of lines with different textures are generally divided into two categories: "fold fork" and "leak mark". The folded fork lines are smooth, smooth and vigorous, giving people a beautiful and even aesthetic feeling. The lines of the leakage marks are rough and vigorous, frustrated and depressed, giving people a rich and fiery aesthetic feeling. Folding fork strands is faster; Only when the leakage mark is slightly slow and accompanied by vibration like sailing against the current can the lines with richer connotations be written. These two lines show the "bone strength" of calligraphy and cannot be ignored. Learners can choose lines with different aesthetic tastes to express their different styles. Of course, the missing lines are related to the writing technique, but they are also the natural expression of the calligrapher's skill, not the result of deliberate trembling, frustration or distortion. Doing is vulgar, which beginners must pay attention to. 2. Eccentric strokes are called eccentric strokes, that is, the pen tip runs on one side of the stroke. At this time, the direction in which the brush contacts the paper surface is perpendicular to the running direction of the pen. When the pen is carried in an oblique direction, the ink stored between the bristles flows to the nib, while when the pen runs vertically, the ink at the nib is sufficient, so the traces left on one side of the nib appear smooth and uniform; On the other hand, because the direction of the bristles on the paper is not consistent with the running direction of the pen, the paper and the bristles generate a certain friction force, and the ink flows poorly, making it difficult to travel. So sometimes the ink marks on paper are staggered, uneven and dry. Because the lines written by Pianfeng are broken and thin, they are not rich and perfect, and they are regarded as sick pens by calligraphers. 3. The stroke method of using side strokes between the center stroke and the offset stroke is called side strokes. At this time, the direction in which the pen contacts the paper surface forms an included angle of about 45 with the running direction of the pen. The smaller the angle, the closer it is to the center. The bigger it is, the closer it is to oblique stroke. The shape and texture of the line written by the winger are between the center and the winger. Because the side stroke is more casual, it is beneficial to inherit the meaning of the previous stroke and speed up the writing. Calligraphers in ancient and modern times have used profiling extensively. So the side attack is still "legal". However, calligraphers of past dynasties still advocate that the middle pen is the main one, supplemented by the edge pen. Of course, whether or not to use the side pen has a certain relationship with the font and style of the book. Feng Fang in the Ming Dynasty said in his book Tactics: "The ancients used the same pen to write seal, minute, truth, line and cursive script, and they must give priority to the positive front, and occasionally use the horizontal front to win the glory. Below the sub-book, the front eight, the side two, the seal is absolutely unstoppable. However, this is only a rough idea. " In Qing dynasty, Jin Nong once created his own "lacquer book", which is a special case. His horizontal painting is so flat, which breaks through the forbidden area where calligraphers only write with horizontal strokes and creates a new look. When writing cursive script, we should use oblique front transition, followed by center and flank, which not only saves the trouble of changing the pen front and pen, but also changes the interest. If the strokes are too simple and pure, they will appear monotonous. 4. The moment when the hidden front touches the paper is called starting, putting pen to paper or writing; When a stippling is finished and the pen tip leaves the paper, it is called pen collection. (1) hide a pen. When writing, the trace of the pen tip is covered in the stroke, and the edge is not exposed. This method of starting a pen is called hiding the nib. Because the direction of this pen is opposite to the direction of stippling, it is also called "reverse pen" or "reverse advance". When it comes to writing, the Tibetan Front can be divided into Fiona Fang. Fang Bi, Tibetan front, is the result of Tibetan front twisting pen, Tibetan front round pen, is the result of Tibetan front twisting pen. (2) Tibetan front pen. When the pen is closed, the pen tip returns to stippling and then leaves the paper, and the edge is not exposed outside the strokes. This method of closing pens is called hiding the nib or returning the nib. The ancients said, "No matter what you do, no matter what you do, you will never back down.". There are also differences between Fiona Fang and Zangfeng's pen collection, and the principle is the same as that of Fang Bi and round pen in Zangfeng's pen collection. The beginning and end of the Tibetan front make the brushwork look dignified and subtle. This method is purely used in seal script, and is also commonly used in official script, regular script, running script and cursive script. 5. Uncover the front collection ① Uncover the front and start writing. When starting a pen with a pen, the method of starting a pen with the pen tip exposed outside the stippling is called pen tip exposure, which is also called pen tip straight writing and pen tip exposure. Lu Feng's calligraphy is often dominated by the side strokes, which are extremely neat and brilliant, and can inherit the meaning of the last stroke and strengthen the connection between stippling, so there is a saying that "the side strokes take glory", and Wang Xizhi's "straight falling" refers to this method. It is widely used in cursive script and cursive script, and it also appears from time to time because of the different writing habits of calligraphers. (2) exposed pen. When the pen is closed, the pen tip is exposed outside the stippling and has obvious sharpness, which is called pen tip closing or pen tip closing. There are many forms of strokes, such as horizontal strokes, up strokes and down strokes, vertical strokes, left strokes and right strokes, and other strokes also have many forms. Lufeng's pen collection has the function of strengthening the strength of calligraphy and making the spirit shine; In addition, the front direction can lead to the next stippling, thus strengthening the connection and echo between stippling, which is an extremely important vivid expression means. Lu Feng's brush collection is suitable for all kinds of calligraphy, such as seal script, official script, regular script, running script and cursive script, but especially for running script and cursive script. 6. The translation pen does not move up and down on the paper, but moves parallel to the center of the paper, which is called translation or pen passing. There is no obvious thickness change of the translated lines. The brush can run in a straight line or in an arc when translating. 7. Lifting the brush and moving it up and down on the paper is called lifting. Raising pressure is one of the important links in using a pen, an indispensable means to complete stippling, and the key to changing the thickness of strokes. The strokes are thin and thick, and the strokes are thick and thin, which causes the rhythm change of stroke thickness. In addition, the "pen lifting" in the process of pressure lifting is the key to change the style of writing. With the gradual improvement of pen, the requirements for strokes are getting higher and higher. By the Tang Dynasty, the writing style of regular script was mature, and the proportion of stroke center increased. In order to achieve the purpose of focusing on the center, it is necessary to have skilled skills in adjusting the front end of strokes, that is, "pressing the pen and lifting the pen". Dong Qichang once said, "When you write a pen, you must hold it up and don't let it suppress yourself. Is eternal. " This sentence is about the importance of writing. For example, when writing a horizontal painting, "I want to cross first, and I want to go straight down." At this time, the nib is facing up and the pen is lying on the paper; If you go to the right, it is inevitable that there will be crooked tricks. In order to meet the requirements of the central stroke, it is necessary to raise the pen at the stroke, that is, raise the pen immediately after the stroke, and then turn forward, so that the movement direction of the brush hair is consistent with the running direction of the pen on the right, and it becomes the central stroke. It can be seen that keeping a pen is one of the important links in the process of using a pen. 8. Rotation and folding are two forms of stroke conversion direction. (1) When the stylus rotates in an arc during translation, it is called stylus rotation. There are two kinds of rotary pens: translation and torsion. ① The turn of translation. The "translation turn" is what Da Zhongguang called "rotation" (see the book Raft: "The rotation of a painting is expensive." )。 Self-rotation means that when the brush moves in an arc, the tip of the pen that touches the paper remains unchanged all the time, and the center moves in an arc, resulting in a round and even line. This method is used for all strokes of Xiao Zhuan, and also for the rotation of one stroke in official script, regular script, running script and cursive script. (2) the turning point of torsion. When the brush moves in an arc, the brush surface that touches the paper changes constantly and twists left and right, which connects the changes of the center, flank and flank into a whole in an instant movement, thus producing ever-changing lines in torsion, overlap and friction, with rounded edges, sometimes rough, sometimes dry and sometimes wet ... full of charm and distinct rhythm. This technique is widely used in cursive script, especially in weeds. (2) When the folding pen moves in translation, it suddenly changes direction at a point to form a folding angle, and the vertex of the folding angle is called a folding point. This way of carrying pens is called folding pens. When folding pens, cursive scripts sometimes appear sideways or even sideways, which is the result of taking advantage of the trend and going straight. If the original center stroke continues to be the center after the inflection point, it is necessary to change the front "dark". Zhu Hegang's "Linchi New Street" said that there must be darkness at the turning point to know the beauty of the fork. It's a real trick to hide the truth, but you should also obey the rules. Bao explained the saying of "waiting in the line" in "Art Boat and Double Boat": "Anyone who is horizontal and straight will also do it; The ancients will gradually become discouraged and inconvenient to be straightforward, so they will stay everywhere. Turn the key place around and leave it behind; The ancients will definitely turn around and will not let the ink go out, but will stay anywhere. " 9. There are also two kinds of changing the front, namely, lifting the pen to fold the front and turning the pen to fold the front. (1) Fold the front with a pen. By raising the pen to adjust the pen tip, the original center line still keeps the center running after the inflection point. This method of changing the front is called lifting the pen to fold the front. This type of change is also divided into Fiona Fang. ① Square folds. A folding pen that achieves the Fang Bi effect by suddenly folding the pen is called square folding. 2 Round folding. A folding pen that achieves a round pen effect by raising the pen wheel is called a round fold. Using these two folding methods, although the direction of the brush changed through the folding point in the operation, the brush surface of the paper did not change much, and basically remained on the original brush surface, which was called "pen surface". This method is widely used in many kinds of books. (2) In the process of writing, one milli-face of the brush originally running from the center is folded at the folding point, and the other milli-face contacting with the paper after changing direction continues to run as the center. This folding method, which changes the relative direction of the milli-face without lifting, is called folding method, that is, "eight faces forward" The effect of folding in half is similar to that of square folding, but it is generally stiff and not as pure as square folding. But the folding speed is fast, so it is widely used in calligraphy and cursive script. Square folding is accurate and often used in regular script. Using a pen is often a combination of several actions. Except for a few calligraphy styles such as "Yujin Seal", which are basically single-center, most of the other calligraphy styles are mixed and compound movements. In actual writing, we should not copy a certain method mechanically, but master the brushwork flexibly. (2) Where there is ink in the ink method, there must be a pen, and there is ink in the pen. Pen and ink are interdependent and complement each other. The method of using ink is also an auxiliary means of brushwork. The ancients used ink as thick as paint, while Su Dongpo used ink as black and bright, like a child's pupil. In the Ming Dynasty, with the rise of literati painting, it was very common for painters to be calligraphers. Therefore, in the field of calligraphy, the ink method of painting is gradually integrated to increase the interest of calligraphy works. The ancients said that ink is divided into five colors, that is, it is generally divided into thick ink, light ink, dry pen, rising ink and thirsty pen. L thick ink thick ink is a common method of using ink, which was commonly used by the ancients. Ink is like paint, written in black and white on white paper, which is extremely eye-catching, clear and full, and radiant. 2. Light ink is an intermediate color between black and white, with gray tone as the main color, giving people an elegant aesthetic feeling. Light ink is closely related to the skill of using water. 3. Ink rising refers to the phenomenon that ink overflows over strokes on rice paper. The beauty of rising ink lies in maintaining the basic form of lines while having hazy ink interest, so that lines and surfaces are integrated. If you write in Su Mo, the water is separated from the stippling, and the brushwork is clear, with bones and flesh, which will give you another taste. 4. Thirsty pen and dry pen refer to the effect of writing on paper after most of the water contained in the light ink in the pen is lost; Dry pen refers to the effect of writing on paper after most of the ink contained in thick ink is lost. The former is moist in the sky because of water, and the latter is old in the sky because of thick ink. Ink painting has many skills. Da Zhongguang said: "If you want to cook ink, you will live if you break water;" When the pen is moistened, it will be turbid when used. " Kang Youwei also concluded: "Dry grinding ink is a wet pen, and wet grinding ink is a dry pen. "In addition to the skill of changing ink, the rhythm change from thick to dry formed by the number of times of dipping ink and the number of words written in ink at a time is also one of the very important ink skills. If a book has dry, wet and cloudy changes at the same time, it can enhance the sense of rhythm of the work, which is a manifestation of skillful techniques. You can't change for the sake of change. You can't rigidly pursue a certain ink effect, otherwise it will appear pretentious and tacky/article/article/ID/1817.