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How to appreciate cursive script
1. Appreciate the beauty of harmony in the priority of brushwork
Brushwork is the basis of calligraphy Elements are created with soft and elastic brushes. The distinctive feature of Chinese brushes is that they can write ever-changing and textured dots and lines, forming a wonderful world of calligraphy, giving the appreciator a feeling of beauty and endless imagination. imagination space.
First, the corresponding, harmonious and unified brushwork constitutes the basic beauty of cursive script.
Cursive script combines opposing and different writing methods to fully demonstrate the effect of harmony and unity, which is the basis of the beauty of cursive script. Among them, lifting and pressing is the most basic brushwork. Pressing is to press down on the end of the brush, focusing on the end of the brush, giving people a sense of calmness and stability. Lift the pen upwards and gently rub the pen against the paper, giving people a relaxed and pleasant feeling. Only when "lifting" and "pressing" are used interchangeably in writing can the writing be interesting. Cursive writing should be centered on the center, supplemented by the side forwards. The center should be used for its vigor, the side forwards should be used for their beauty, the front should be hidden to contain the spirit, and the front should be exposed to show off the spirit. This combination of strokes creates a unity of contradictions. The pen used in cursive writing is round and contains muscles and bones. When folding the pen, the square and round strokes should alternate naturally and avoid being bloated. The turning brushwork is mainly round, which shows the flying poplar. Through secret pressing, dwell and other techniques, mixed with square meaning, the turning is cadenced, both square and round, and the work can be infinitely varied.
The second is the cheerful, smooth and alternating rapid and slow strokes, forming the dynamic beauty of cursive writing.
Smooth strokes are naturally the most basic requirement for cursive writing. The speed of strokes determines the rhythm of the lines. The speed of cursive writing refers to the speed of the writing, like a runaway horse, with great momentum, but it must be fast but not slippery. "Even if you don't understand Yinliu, you will only pursue strong speed. If you can't do it quickly, the effect will be delayed and heavy. If you are fast, you will have the opportunity to escape; if you stay late, you will be rewarded. You will go against the speed and achieve the beauty of meeting; Addicting to delay is the ultimate pleasure. Being able to do things quickly is the so-called staying late; because you are late, you will be rewarded with fame!" (2) The Xu of cursive writing is to slow down the rapid movement of the strokes, to experience the delicate and subtle movements of the strokes during the strokes, and to use the dense and horizontal strokes to embody the beauty of cursive writing in motion. When the writing force is dignified, it can penetrate into the wood three points without being stagnant; when the writing force is light and delicate, the energy can not be carelessly floated. Be virtual where it is supposed to be, and be real where it is real. In reality, it is clever and clumsy, simple and subtle, but in reality, it is both temporary and distant, full of interesting things. It should also be able to capture, manipulate, release and retract. When spread out, the lines are round, strong and thick; when gathered together, they look like wicker silver wire, soft yet strong.
2. Appreciate the beauty of balance in the unity of opposites
A distinctive feature of cursive writing is that "moving is used to control tranquility" (3). There are many factors for cursive script to "live in motion to control tranquility", and structure is one of its important factors. The structure of cursive script is the unity of contradictory opposites. The two sides are both opposed to each other, but also interconnected and interdependent, thus forming a complete of unity.
First, see the beauty in imbalance.
The beauty of cursive writing "does not value stability and stability", but seeks balance and beauty in dynamics. The so-called dynamic balance is to use the laws of the unity of contradictory opposites to form a dynamic whole, such as symmetry, echo, etc. When assembling the body, we do not seek stability, but only seek balance in opening and closing. The main pen expresses the direction of power, and the secondary pen expresses the small interests. When expressing strength, pursue strength, when expressing interest, pursue charm, and pursue the feeling of beauty in imbalance.
The second is to experience beauty in dynamic changes.
Dynamic is the most obvious expression of cursive writing. "One stroke at a time, the mood is vertical and horizontal; there is more than enough space in the middle; the knots are majestic and elegant, similar to vividness, deep and profound, and radiant as gods; those who use the unexpected as a measure are the wonders of writing." (4) Cursive writing talks about movement, which is extremely dangerous. The strange dangers of cursive writing are the highest state of structure. It requires the characters to be tilted appropriately, the left and right sides bowing to each other, looking forward with affection, and being balanced and measured. At the same time, only by setting up dangers and being able to break them can we "turn danger into safety". The so-called "can be dangerous and return to peace" is the unique dialectical unity of danger and peace, and is the dynamic expression of cursive script.
The third is to feel the beauty in the opening and closing of density.
The whitening technique of "sparse but airtight" is the highest level of planning and layout. This technique can not only create various forms of calligraphy, but also create a beautiful rhythm of the virtual and the real in the composition. It adopts an exaggerated approach, with a loose and open feeling in sparse parts, like entering a vast and vast grassland, with a lyrical and bold meaning, and rigorous and compact in dense parts, giving people a sense of dignity and seriousness, and making people act rigorously. In short, only if it is dense but not obscured, sparse but not withered, and the density is appropriate can the cursive script be more beautiful.
3. Appreciate the overall beauty in the composition of Ji Bai and Dang Hei
Ji Bai and Danghei is the basic requirement of the composition. It uses the dots and lines, knots, and movement of Qi in cursive script. Such perfect and unified requirements give people an overall feeling, which is either dignified and solemn, or unbridled and unbridled, either elegant and elegant, or dense and heroic. The different styles and styles of cursive script are reflected through the diversity of compositions, giving people a rich and diverse sense of beauty.
First, the echo of the spatial layout.
The composition of cursive script requires the consideration of the whole text, accumulating words to form lines, accumulating lines to form articles, pursuing the scattered changes of words and words, lines and lines, setting off each other, just like the harmony of music, complex and It is harmonious, changing yet unified, forming a pattern of looking out for each other and echoing back and forth. This is one of the characteristics of the beauty of cursive script.
On the one hand, it requires change, difference, and movement. Words and words, lines and lines should be uneven, well-proportioned, echoing back and forth, and mirroring left and right.
On the other hand, the variety and variety must be unified in the overall Qi, that is, the pens and strokes are connected to each other, the words are connected to each other, the Qi and pulse are connected, and the front and back respond. In short, it should be uneven but balanced, change but unified, contrast and harmonize, connect the upper and lower, look left and right, see the straight in the song, and achieve the spirit of every pen, the rhyme of every word, the spirit of every line, and the layout. Extraordinarily stable and interesting effect.
The second is the beauty of the layers of ink divided into five colors.
"When calculating white, treat black, knowing white and guarding black" is to mobilize black and white together to create beauty. Ink is divided into five colors, which is to mobilize different levels of ink color to complete the creation of calligraphy beauty. Especially in cursive script, good use of ink will add a lot of fun to the entire work. “Scholars look for laws from places where there is pen and ink, and seek divine principles from places where there is no pen and ink; they also look for laws from places where there is no pen and ink, and God’s principles from places where there is pen and ink.” (5) There is a difference between rich and plump ink, light and pure, and dry ink. The various shades of wet and light, the interplay of pen and ink, and the various changes add to the rhythm of cursive writing and make it more interesting.
“Cursive writing originates from nature, nature is established, yin and yang come out, yin and yang are born, and the situation comes out.” (6) Appreciating cursive calligraphy is a process that combines subjectivity and objectivity. The same work may be different depending on the beholder. It is understandable that wise people see wisdom and come to different conclusions. However, there are some fundamental basic rules that can be followed when appreciating cursive script. We need to continue to explore and pursue so that more people can enjoy the beauty in cursive script appreciation.