Su Zhiyong's True Script Thousand Characters Classic (Volume 1)

Author: Meng Wei, Li Ning, Hu Jian (editors)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Zhi Yong, whose birth and death years are unknown, was a monk during the Chen and Sui dynasties, known as the "Eternal Zen Master." He was the seventh descendant of the famous calligrapher Wang Xizhi of the Jin Dynasty. While residing at Yongxing Temple in Wuxing, he practiced calligraphy behind closed doors for thirty years, writing over 800 copies of the "Thousand Characters," which he distributed to various temples in Zhejiang. His discarded brushes were so numerous that they filled the doorsteps, leading to the nickname "Iron Doorsteps." His calligraphy was deeply rooted in his family tradition, inheriting the style of Wang Xizhi. Yu Shennan of the Tang Dynasty received the transmission from him. His calligraphic works had a profound influence on later generations, serving as a bridge connecting the Wei and Jin periods with the Sui and Tang dynasties. This true-style "Thousand Characters" exhibits exquisite brushwork, meticulous and stable structure, clear starting and ending points of strokes. It offers great benefits for beginners in understanding the responsiveness and interplay of brush movements. However, when practicing, it is essential to avoid carelessness, thinness, and the tendency to stray into superficial or fashionable styles.