Cai Fu Running Script

Author: China Book Publishing House
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-01-01
Features: Practicing calligraphy requires learning from stone inscriptions as a necessary step. Learning stone inscriptions involves two aspects: reading them and writing them, which can be alternated repeatedly. Reading involves identifying strokes, structure, and composition by studying the inscriptions, preparing for writing. Writing, on the other hand, includes copying and tracing. Together, they are referred to as "copying and tracing." Copying and tracing inscriptions means imitating the strokes, structure, and composition of the characters.
When copying inscriptions, one should first write them while comparing with the original. This is called "direct copying." Once direct copying becomes proficient, one can write the characters entirely from memory without looking at the original, which is called "memorized copying." When memorized copying is mastered, it indicates that the learning of the inscription is complete.
There are several methods for tracing inscriptions: red tracing, shadow tracing, and outline tracing.
It is recommended that learners of stone inscriptions combine reading with copying and tracing. Moreover, copying and tracing can be combined using a three-step method: Step 1: Directly copy the inscription once; Step 2: Trace the same inscription, which will reveal errors from Step 1; Step 3: Copy the same inscription again to correct the errors discovered in Step 2. This method is very helpful for improving calligraphy practice efficiency.
Mi Fu, originally named Mi Fu, changed his name to Mi Fu in the sixth year of Yuanyou. He was also known as Xiangyang Manshi, Haiyue Wai Shi, and Lumen Jushi, and was called "Mi Nan Gong" or "Mi Dian."
Mi Fu studied calligraphy under Wang Xizhi, calligraphy under Shi Zhu, and clerical script under Shi Yi Guan. In his later years, he mastered both rules and freedom, and claimed that only those who were truly skilled in calligraphy had one brushstroke, while he had four. Mi Fu's reputation as a calligrapher was well-deserved, as he had not disappointed the people of his time. Mi Fu was not particularly skilled in regular script, seal script, or clerical script, but he truly excelled in running script and cursive script. His calligraphy was deeply influenced by the calligraphy of the Six Dynasties, making his style profound and expressive, like riding a fine horse—advancing and retreating with ease, without needing to whip it, yet always pleasing to the eye. Mi Fu's calligraphy was ranked alongside "Su, Huang, and Cai" as one of the "Four Great Calligraphers of the Song Dynasty" and had a significant impact on later generations. The calligraphy works selected here are all excellent examples of Mi Fu's work, presented for calligraphy enthusiasts to appreciate and practice.