Wang Xizhi's Four Treatises on Calligraphy

Author: Fang Hongyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: This book is one volume in the series "Interpretation and Translation of Ancient Calligraphy Treatises in Regular Script." It adopts the method of "text paired with calligraphy," writing treatises as "calligraphy albums," explaining the original text's meanings, and supplementing technical treatises with example characters to enhance the readability of ancient calligraphy treatises and increase their suitability for copying. Each category of rules in this book is accompanied by corresponding supporting evidence to strengthen its persuasiveness. Additionally, example characters are appropriately exaggerated to highlight their features, and the "text paired with calligraphy" method accurately expresses the creative intentions of Wang Xizhi, a renowned calligrapher from the Wei and Jin dynasties. In his treatise on calligraphy, Wang Xizhi's theories are rich in philosophical reasoning. For example, he provides insightful explanations on the dialectical relationships between the internal and external aspects of characters, their fullness and emptiness, sizes, densities, lengths, speeds, and strengths. Regarding cursive script, he emphasizes that it should be "[slow at the beginning and quick at the end]," with characters that are interconnected without interruption but still maintain "[distinct angles and undulations]" and "[the brushwork should not be uniform in size or pressure]." He also proposes that characters should prioritize balance and stability, that learning calligraphy requires dedication, and that each character in a work should have a distinct sense of charm.