Yan Style "Dabota" Red Ink Practice

Author: Cheng Tonggen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-08-01
Features: Copying is an essential stage for beginners in calligraphy, serving as an important way to learn and inherit the art of calligraphy, as well as one of the main methods to master it. Previous generations primarily used thin paper placed over calligraphy scrolls, making it difficult to truly grasp the principles of brushwork and structure. To overcome these limitations, to grasp the structure of characters, master writing techniques, and improve calligraphic skills, we have carefully designed and compiled this set of copying textbooks. This textbook includes four styles of regular script: Yan, Liu, Ou, and Zhao, each selecting representative works such as Qinli Beibei, Xuanmiao Ta, Jiu Cheng Guan, and Danba Bei for practice. Each style is divided into three volumes—upper, middle, and lower—totaling twelve volumes. The upper volume focuses on stroke practice, where students can carefully read the text explanations, study the stroke diagrams, analyze the characteristics of different strokes, and lay a foundation for further learning. The middle volume is for practice on radicals, briefly explaining the conventional writing methods of radicals, allowing students to understand their positions in characters and their relationships with other parts. The lower volume is for overall structure practice, where students should consider the overall layout and handle each part accordingly based on the characteristics of different character types. The three volumes are organically connected and mutually reinforcing, preparing students for transitioning to copying from original works through practice. Each character is presented four times—first as the original model from the scroll, which students should carefully appreciate for its form, spirit, and artistic charm, and repeatedly contemplate the principles of brushwork. Each character needs to be copied three times, all using the double-hook method to outline the characters, avoiding the shortcomings of the conventional method of placing thin paper over the scroll, which makes it difficult to see the outlines and positions. In the first copying, arrows are used within the double-hook frames to indicate the order and techniques of brushwork, making it easier for beginners to get started. For the second and third copies, no arrows are used, and students should recall the order and techniques of brushwork. They can also copy the second and third characters first and refer to the characters with arrows previously copied. The four styles of Yan, Liu, Ou, and Zhao calligraphy have long been regarded as models for calligraphy learners. Yan style is upright and robust, Liu style is forceful and elegant, Ou style is daring and refined, and Zhao style is round and graceful. Through copying, by comparing the different characteristics of brushwork and structure in the four styles, students will improve their appreciation and artistic skills.