Hui Gong Ge Writing Method (Beginner's Book 1)

Author: Yang Weiguo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The Hui Gong Ge (Round Palace Grid) divides Chinese characters into two sections—“Inner Palace” and “Outer Palace” for memory. The significance of these sections far exceeds the role of stroke positioning. It demonstrates to learners the structural patterns of Chinese characters, such as “tight inside, loose outside,” “dense inside, sparse outside,” and “solid inside, hollow outside.” Teachers using the Hui Gong Ge not only teach students which stroke is positioned where, but also how to structure certain types of characters to make them compact and aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, the Hui Gong Ge teaching method not only helps students learn to write, but more importantly, teaches them the principles of writing well. The content of this textbook, the first volume, focuses on the writing guidance of independent characters and vertically structured characters, which forms the foundational material of the entire series. All subsequent compound character structures and extension rules in the second volume and beyond are based on this volume’s teaching content. The six writing textbooks are arranged in the following order: first independent characters, then compound characters; first vertically structured characters, then horizontally structured characters; emphasizing stroke extension first, then guiding the combination and arrangement of the main body. The teaching process is also designed to progress from simple to complex.
Volume 1 guides students to focus on the general patterns of independent and vertically structured characters, without providing detailed instruction on stroke writing. Independent and vertically structured characters are primarily categorized into three types: regular triangles (trapezoids), inverted triangles, and rhombuses. As long as students grasp the structural patterns, they can use the Hui Gong Ge to appropriately contract and extend the strokes and structure of the characters. Starting from Volume 3, there is more detailed guidance on the main body of characters, especially the combination and arrangement of compound characters. The teaching methods emphasize the following points:
1. Differentiate the Inner and Outer Palaces of the Hui Gong Ge with vivid distinctions. For example, lightly color the inner palace grid or use different colors to distinguish between the inner and outer palaces.
2. The left and right sides of the Inner Palace Grid play a significant role:
- They display extended strokes.
- They serve as local positioning guides.
- They determine the width of the character.
- They indicate whether strokes are straight or slanted. Thus, they must not be ignored in teaching.
3. The top and bottom sides of the Inner Palace Grid are also crucial:
- They decisively determine the height of the character.
- They are of great importance for the positioning and emphasis of the first stroke in many characters.
4. In teaching stroke extension, emphasize strengthening the awareness of extension through training:
- Teachers can lead students to practice with hand gestures, physical movements, and writing methods repeatedly.
- Colored pencils can be used to trace or highlight the extended parts with pencils.
5. In teaching, focus on the “transfer guidance” of students’ writing skills using the Hui Gong Ge:
- It is essential to guide students to independently write characters based on the characteristics of their shapes without relying on the Inner Palace Grid.
- The grid design in the textbook is specifically designed for this purpose.
The Hui Gong Ge teaching method transforms the passive dynamics of teaching and learning. The teaching method is simple: starting with stroke extension, grasping the characteristics of Chinese characters from the macro to the micro, and progressing step by step. When students write, they visually grasp the simplified, stylized combination forms of Chinese characters—the main body and extension. This innovative approach to teaching and learning undoubtedly adds new vitality to the reform of writing education and greatly boosts the confidence of both teachers and students in teaching and learning writing effectively.