Penmanship in Ten Lectures

Author: Sun Yutian, Chen Chuanwu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-09-01
Features: Writing beautiful and fluent calligraphy with a pen is truly something to envy. Even in today's highly computerized world, calligraphy remains indispensable in learning, life, and work. Mastering calligraphy is neither easy nor difficult. Let's start with the easy part. Since the first day of primary school, parents have prepared a pen for you—of course, this includes pencils and ballpoint pens—and it will accompany you almost throughout your life, used daily. Even the most clumsy person can write neatly with a little effort. Calligraphy is also simpler than brush calligraphy (or brush calligraphy). Brush calligraphy has specific writing tools and materials, a history of thousands of years, and has produced different scripts. Within the same script, there are various schools, along with a complete set of learning methods and processes, making it a completely independent art form. Calligraphy, however, is much less complex and has different requirements. In other words, not everyone can master brush calligraphy, but everyone can write calligraphy. Therefore, mastering calligraphy is not difficult.
Now, let's talk about why mastering calligraphy is not easy. Of course, doing anything well and mastering any skill requires arduous effort and hard work. Everyone can write calligraphy, but to write it well or even excel at it, one must put in considerable effort. Although some people have a natural talent for writing, while others are less skilled, these are superficial differences. To truly write good calligraphy, one must master learning methods, follow writing principles, apply writing techniques, and accumulate some experience. These methods, principles, and techniques are not something one can learn in just a few nights or mornings.
This book, "Ten Lectures on Calligraphy," starts from a practical perspective and introduces the basic knowledge and writing essentials of calligraphy in a step-by-step, systematic manner. It avoids vague theories that pretend to be profound and innovative techniques that are just showy. There are no shortcuts in learning. Rewards come from hard work. The beautiful flower of calligraphy will surely bloom in the hands of diligent learners.