Classic Cursive Calligraphy Lesson Plan. Below, sixty-five examples of radicals and components from Wang Xizhi's Cursive "Holy Teaching Order"

Author: Gong Chao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Qing Dynasty scholar Jiang Heng once wrote in Zhuocun Tang Tibai: "The Buddhist monk Huairen, a descendant of Wang Xuan, inherited his family's calligraphic tradition. Therefore, his Jizifu Shengjiao Xu (Collected Characters for the Holy Teaching Order) flows with a single breath, radiating a vibrant spirit, and rivals the Lanting Xu (Preface to the Orchid Pavilion) as the ancestor of calligraphy for millennia. Since its creation, calligraphers from the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties have highly praised this work, calling it the model for generations. To imitate Wang Xizhi's style, one must start with Huairen. Indeed, this stele fully embodies the exquisite, elegant, and dynamic beauty of Wang Xizhi's calligraphic art. This stele is of immeasurable merit and remains an invaluable resource for calligraphy study to this day. Its main features are:
1. Numerous characters. The stele contains over 1,900 characters, each refined and graceful, complementing one another in harmonious contrast, offering ample space for learning and copying.
2. Diverse scripts. The stele blends Wang Xizhi's regular script, running script, and cursive script, boldly combining, arranging, and integrating them. The dynamic interplay of motion and stillness, along with unrestrained brushwork, provides significant inspiration for later calligraphers, especially contemporary ones.
3. Rich variations. First, the brushwork is exceptionally diverse, incorporating techniques from regular, running, cursive, clerical, and seal scripts. Second, the structure of the characters is novel and lively, displaying surprises within balance, with a harmonious interplay of stability and tilt, and a dynamic elegance. Third, even repeated characters and radicals are transformed with creativity. It is said that Huairen spent 18 years collecting the characters for the Shengjiao Xu, showing his meticulous dedication. In the history of calligraphy, it can be said that the practice of collecting characters originated with Huairen.
Having studied Wang Xizhi's characters for many years, I have long felt that the characters in various existing collections are too small and unclear, making precise copying difficult.