Sun Guoting's "Shupu" - Great Cursive Script Spectrum

Author: Lu Youzhu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-05-01
Features: This book has the following characteristics in its editing: First, it is highly practical and meets the needs of beginners in calligraphy, being user-friendly. The authors of this calligraphy character manual are all teachers with long-term experience in calligraphy teaching. They are not only diligent calligraphers with successful creations but, more importantly, they possess rich experience in teaching calligraphy. They start from the practical aspects of calligraphy teaching, draw on various strengths, and provide targeted analysis and explanations that fit the actual learning process of students. This ensures precision and effectiveness in addressing issues. Their analysis is pertinent, concise, and easy to understand. They tell you where the difficulties lie in learning calligraphy and where details are easily overlooked, as well as how to overcome challenges and improve shortcomings. This focused approach will inspire and benefit beginners in calligraphy.
Second, the book is arranged in a progressive and systematic manner, making it easy to learn and teach. For example, in the character manual of the Qinli Stele, the brushwork section first explains horizontal strokes, followed by vertical strokes. A horizontal and a vertical stroke together form the character “” (shí). Next, diagonal strokes are introduced, and adding a long diagonal stroke creates the characters “” (zài) or “” (zuǒ). The character “” (piàn) is based on the foundation of horizontal and vertical strokes, combined with a diagonal stroke. This step-by-step approach is logical and interconnected. In practical learning, it starts from the simple to the complex, making it particularly suitable for beginners in calligraphy—even young children in kindergarten would appreciate this progressive teaching method. The same principle is applied to the arrangement of other character manuals.
Third, the editing of this book combines vertical and horizontal elements organically, making the content more comprehensive. Most standard manuals follow a single-line structure, focusing solely on vertical arrangements—starting with brushwork, then progressing to component structures, and finally discussing overall composition. However, in calligraphy teaching practice, we have found that many excellent calligraphy teachers combine brushwork and structure together. For instance, when explaining a basic stroke, they demonstrate its position in a character, its length, thickness, straightness, or curvature, thereby integrating vertical and horizontal elements organically. This gives beginners a structural understanding even when they first encounter brushwork. Since Chinese characters are an organic whole, brushwork and structure are closely related. In teaching, we often separate brushwork, components, and structure for convenience, but in reality, they are inseparable. This is especially true in cursive and semi-cursive calligraphy. Zhao Mengfu once said, “Brushwork is eternal, while structure varies with the times.” This is not entirely accurate—brushwork is not timeless, and structure does not only vary with time but also changes with the variation of brushwork. Over the centuries, countless calligraphy works have displayed diverse appearances and styles, all rooted in brushwork. The brushwork of Yan Zhenqing differs greatly from that of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, and likewise, it varies from Wang Duo, Zhang Ruili, and others. Therefore, combining brushwork and structure in analysis aligns more closely with the essence of calligraphy art and the realities of calligraphy teaching. This can be seen as a new attempt and breakthrough in calligraphy education.
This Grand Calligraphy Character Manual series also has another feature: it analyzes and explains the typical brushwork from a single work by an ancient calligrapher. It provides both detailed stroke-by-stroke breakdowns and an overall grasp of components, structure, and composition. The original calligraphy is enlarged and printed in relief for easy observation and appreciation. Each volume focuses on the brushwork of one calligrapher’s work, and when combined, the entire series presents a magnificent collection. It covers five major calligraphy styles— Seal, Clerical, Regular, Cursive, and Semi-Cursive—forming a perfect combination. Readers can purchase the entire set to grasp the bigger picture, avoiding repetition and waste from buying individual volumes separately. Alternatively, they can buy single volumes as needed, using them independently, catering to readers of all levels.
At the same time, we hope to gain the understanding and support of teachers, parents, and all calligraphy enthusiasts.