Chu Suiliang's One Hundred Methods of Regular Script Radicals

Author: Ji Lin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features:
Chu Suiliang (596–659), styled Dengshan, was a native of Qiantang (now Hangzhou, Zhejiang). He was well-versed in classics and history, and excelled in clerical and regular scripts. After the death of Yu Shennan, Emperor Taizong of Tang sighed, "After Yu Shennan's passing, there is no one left to discuss calligraphy with!" Wei Zheng then recommended Chu Suiliang, saying, "Suiliang's brushwork is forceful and deeply embodies the style of Wang Yishao." Emperor Taizong cherished Wang Xizhi's calligraphy and offered gold and silk in exchange for it. As a result, calligraphy from all over the empire was sent to the capital, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake works. Only Chu Suiliang was capable of appraising and identifying them, and he compiled them into the imperial collection.
Chu Suiliang was a master calligrapher, particularly skilled in clerical, regular, and running scripts. He initially studied under Yu Shennan, later emulating Wang Xizhi, and also took Shi Ling, a renowned calligrapher known for his slender and sparse style, as his teacher. His calligraphy primarily followed the clerical script techniques of the Wei and Jin dynasties, while also inheriting the characteristics of his predecessors Ou Yangxun and Yu Shennan. This formed a unique style that was both gentle on the outside and strong on the inside, with smooth and fluid brushwork. He was known as one of the "Four Masters of Early Tang" alongside Ou Yangxun, Yu Shennan, and Xue Ji. His surviving calligraphic works include the "Inscription on Ni Kuan" and the "Inscription of the Yin Fu Jing," while his stone carvings include the "Inscription of the Yantai Holy Teaching," the "Inscription of the Yiqu Buddha niche," and the "Inscription of Fang Xuanling," among others.
This book introduces the techniques of Chu Suiliang's regular script, making it suitable as a textbook for schools and a self-study resource for calligraphy enthusiasts.