pen calligraphy running script step-by-step tutorial Radicals and components

Author: Huang Jianxin (Explanation), Ren Ping (Writing)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-20
Features: Running script is a style of calligraphy that largely reflects the calligrapher's temperament. It combines practicality with artistry. The differences in the calligrapher's interests, cultivation, and the fashion of their era make the strokes of running script diverse in form and style. The dots in running script are not as strictly regulated as those in regular script. The performance of hard-tip running script strokes will also vary due to the different characteristics of the hard-tip itself, often leaving beginners confused by the myriad and complex forms of the strokes. Some may even stray into incorrect practices. A key feature of running script's brushwork is the abundance of hairlines and reflected connections. Hairlines refer to thin lines that naturally extend from one stroke to the next, creating a sense of mutual response between strokes. Sometimes, scattered dots are connected by hairlines to make the characters denser. Reflected connections involve adding hooks or curls at the ends of strokes to create a response between upper and lower strokes, where the brush may appear to break but the intent remains connected. It can be seen as a type of hairline that is broken in the middle. The brushwork of running script is simpler than that of regular script. Unlike regular script, which clearly depicts every dot and stroke, running script simplifies them appropriately, omitting certain strokes like hooks or curls, merging or substituting some strokes, or even adopting some cursive script techniques. Running script rarely uses sharp turns; instead, it employs smooth, flowing, and round brushwork. Sharp angles in regular script are often replaced with turns in running script, where the implied meaning of angles is hidden within the curves, achieving a harmonious balance of both sharp and round.