The Eight Principles of the Yong Character: Lectures on Calligraphy Art (Illustrated Treasure Edition) (Revised Version)

Author: Zhou Ruchang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-07-01
Features: Confucius said, "Reviewing the old leads to knowing the new." But if one does not even know the old, where does the new come from? The art of calligraphy follows the same principle. Chinese character calligraphy has a long history, with masters emerging over thousands of years. The profound truths they discovered and the principles they created must not be abandoned—this is the "old." Only by understanding these principles can one speak of learning and innovation. For example, the "Eight Methods of the Yong Character" (bi, le, nu, ti, ce, lüe, zhuo, zhe) are indeed the basic brush techniques of Chinese character calligraphy. While they cannot fully encompass all brush techniques, they are quite representative. This book takes this as its starting point to explore Chinese calligraphy. Mr. Zhou Ruchang once said he had devoted more effort to the study of "calligraphy" than to the study of "Redology." This book begins with Q&A for beginners and progresses to brushes, brush techniques, and the study of calligraphy, interspersed with anecdotes of famous calligraphers—essentially a summary of Mr. Zhou's lifelong dedication to calligraphy. The book is divided into three parts: Upper, Middle, and Lower. The Upper Part, "Q&A," explains the fundamental essence, knowledge, and significance of Chinese calligraphy in a simple and concise Q&A format, also covering model texts and various brush techniques. It is aimed at young calligraphy enthusiasts and learners. The Middle Part, "Specific Discussions," is a detailed analysis of calligraphy, tracing its roots and correcting certain erroneous concepts about Chinese character calligraphy from a theoretical perspective. The Lower Part, "Comprehensive Discussions," consists of individual essays that are interconnected, full of original insights, and distill key principles, offering new research topics and realizations for those with a deeper understanding of calligraphy. The book is richly illustrated, combining rigorous exploration with liveliness.