Guo Moruo

Author: Guo Moruo, edited by Zhao Xiaojie and Dong Yuheng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-05-01
Features: Chinese calligraphy has a history of thousands of years. At first, it was practical and existed alongside writing. During the Song, Yuan, Ming, and early Qing dynasties, calligraphers mostly followed the styles of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi, valuing the methods of scholars and revering the ancients, though there were also innovative elements. From the mid-Qing dynasty onwards to the early Republic of China, the study of stele calligraphy flourished, leading to a significant change in rules. The aesthetic of inscriptions and stone carvings replaced the traditional scholarly beauty, surpassing the styles of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi, and tracing back to seal script and clerical script, delving deep into Wei Stele calligraphy. At this point, calligraphers valued simplicity and pursued boldness and unrestrained brushwork, with sharp and brisk brushstrokes, robust and expansive forms. Within this wide and open style, they explored the calligraphy of the Three Dynasties and the Han, Wei Stele cliffs, and returned to the natural charm in both artistic conception and context. Calligraphy differs from music, painting, and sculpture—it is a unique art of the Chinese people. Over these thousands of years of calligraphy history, countless masters have emerged, like brilliant stars, leaving behind a precious artistic heritage that must be organized and preserved. Of course, many people have always been concerned with calligraphy, and books about calligraphers and their biographies, as well as rubbings of steles and inscriptions, have become increasingly popular, suggesting a promising outlook. In recent years, our publishing house has also published a series of such books. Seeing calligraphy's current widespread popularity, it feels as if it's a matter close to one's heart, bringing joy. This book features a sophisticated and grand design, where form and content complement each other. The cover uses special paper, four-color printing, and calligraphy as the basic elements, combining literary symbols of different sizes, traditional floral borders, and organic segmented layouts to achieve a balance between movement and stillness. The thick lines at the top and bottom stabilize the ink traces, while the thin lines on the sides create a contrasting and expansive effect, the bold calligrapher.