Fine Arts - A Bilingual Reader of Chinese Traditional Culture

Author: Xu Ling
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: A unique phenomenon in Chinese culture is the independent coexistence of books and paintings as the main forms of art, a tradition spanning thousands of years. The long-standing, independent yet interconnected development of Chinese calligraphy and painting is also an unparalleled example in world civilization. Our ancestors summarized this phenomenon as "calligraphy and painting share the same origin," and thus the enduring evolution of Chinese calligraphy and painting requires being told together. From characters to calligraphy and painting, an important element connects them—"lines." Lines are used to write calligraphy and to paint, and a single line can present completely different appearances, either square and upright or flowing and dynamic. In the following chapters, we can trace the journey of Chinese calligraphy and painting traditions through the historical artifacts that have survived. Starting from the origins of Chinese characters, we will embark on this journey. We will discover that it is also a path of discovering and creating beauty, just as our ancestors did, with their hearts and efforts reaching out from the yellowed and faded silk and paper walls, their fragrance still perceptible.