Brush Calligraphy Structure Tutorial

Author: Tian Yingzhang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-10
Features: The term "structure of strokes" can also be referred to as "calligraphic composition," which involves organizing strokes according to certain norms to form characters. In calligraphy, "structure of strokes" refers to the rational pairing and organic combination of strokes. Of course, different scripts or schools have their own rules for calligraphic composition, but balance and symmetry are the basic elements of character structure. After grasping the key principles of this element, we must also emphasize the dynamic beauty of character structure, especially in regular script, which must prioritize stability with a touch of risk, tranquility with movement. While ensuring uniformity in all directions and completeness in all aspects, it should also convey profound brushwork and boundless artistic charm. Stiffness, sluggishness, rigidity, and lack of spirit do not belong to the art of regular script itself but rather to those who do not recognize or lack skill in practicing it. In today's society, there are countless teachers who claim to teach calligraphy based on the amount of daily practice time, vying to promise that with shorter practice periods, students can write beautiful characters overnight as long as they pay. This is nothing but deceitful talk that misguides students. Instead of focusing on money, why should it be this way? The author believes that learning calligraphy, especially practicing the structure of strokes, should still be based on traditional teaching methods that have been proven effective over decades or centuries, such as the "36 Methods of Ouyang Xun," "84 Methods of Li Chun for Large Characters," "92 Methods of Huang Ziyou for Calligraphic Composition," "Jiang Heng's Method of Dividing and Combining Parts," "54 Methods of Grand Structure," and so on. Although these calligraphic methods may not be perfect and some of the views are outdated, they have been proven to be effective and scientific. Countless people have benefited from them throughout history. This book is divided into two parts: "28 Methods of Structure" and "Structure and Radicals." It categorizes various strokes and structures, with typical character examples for comparative analysis, making it highly practical.