Practical Large Character Copybook -- Ming Dong Qichang (Song of Wine Virtue) and Others: Two Copybooks Selected Characters

Author: Li Zhiwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-27
Features: In daily life, writing standardized and aesthetically pleasing characters not only facilitates communication and interaction but also often brings people a sense of power and beauty unintentionally. Chinese calligraphy, with its millennia of continuous development, remains radiant, primarily because it combines both aesthetic and practical functions. Even today, with the widespread use of ballpoint pens and computers, calligraphy still holds an unshakable position. In China, and even in East Asian regions deeply influenced by traditional Chinese culture such as Japan and South Korea, the ability to write well remains one of the measures of a person's comprehensive cultural literacy. Calligraphy refers to the rules of writing Chinese characters in various scripts (including Seal, Clerical, Regular, Running, and Cursive) with a conical brush, as well as a traditional art form that emphasizes grip, stroke, brush movement, structure, spacing, composition, ink technique, and style. It typically requires a firm grip with an empty palm, coordinated five fingers, a relaxed and level wrist, and (power generation) while suspended; strokes must be executed with a central axis and full brush contact; structures should harmonize strokes; spacing and alignment should be varied yet cohesive, with a unified flow and the expression of the calligrapher's aesthetic taste and personality. To provide a solid foundation for beginners in calligraphy, we have compiled this Practical Large-Character Manuscript. We have selected particularly outstanding examples from ancient masterpieces, arranged them in the sequence of strokes and structures, allowing readers to master them step by step. Each example is accompanied by supplementary illustrations showing the brush movement process, aiding readers in understanding and practicing.
This manuscript is selected from Dong Qichang's representative works in Running Script, The Ode to Wine Virtue and Poems on the Wind of Bin. Dong Qichang (1550–1636), styled Xuancai, was also known as Sibai and Xiangguang Jushi. He was from Huating and passed the imperial examination in the 17th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, eventually becoming the Minister of Rites. He was posthumously honored as Wenmin. A master of both painting and calligraphy, he was also versed in Zen Buddhism, skilled in appreciation, and highly regarded during his time. Initially, he studied under Yan Zhenqing, then followed Yu Shidao. Later, feeling that Tang calligraphy fell short of the elegance of the Wei and Jin periods, he devoted himself to Zhong Yao and Wang Xizhi, drawing inspiration from Li Yong, Xu Hao, Yang Ningshi, and Mi Fu. He directly learned brush techniques from authentic ancient works, resulting in calligraphy that was brisk, elegant, and uniquely refined. The Ming Shi (History of the Ming Dynasty) ranked him alongside Xing Dong, Mi Wanchong, and Zhang Ruitu as the "Four Great Calligraphers." Dong's era is not distant from ours, and he left behind numerous works. The Ode to Wine Virtue and Poems on the Wind of Bin were written in his later years, representing his mature style.