Chen Zhenlian on the History of Chinese Calligraphy (Middle Tang—Yuan Dynasty)

Author: Chen Zhenlian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: The author of this series takes "classic works" as the main thread, meticulously reviewing nearly 900 calligraphy, painting, and seal-carving works from ancient times to the present. From "classic works," he brings forth figures in calligraphy and painting, as well as the evolution of visual forms, expressive techniques, sociocultural concepts, and even artistic concepts in calligraphy, painting, and seal-carving. Where there are questions and reflections, there is the future of academia. In this "Taste the Classics" series, many academic questions remain unresolved and in need of conclusion. Thus, I may have an unexpected hope: "Taste the Classics" turns books thinner, decomposing large, hardcover, thousand-page volumes into 10 softcover, illustrated editions. But because they are thinner, they are more convenient to read, and the questions raised in the text are more likely to attract academic attention. Perhaps academically, it can become thicker—compared to being "sheltered in seclusion and unknown," the current audience is broader, and the opportunities to study, reflect on, and answer questions from new perspectives are naturally greater. This is only beneficial for academia and free of any drawbacks. This may also be the significance of revising this manuscript after more than a decade.