“Chinese Calligraphy” History and Technique

Compiled by Robert Ponzio Oak Hall School

Featuring: “The Art of the Heart” A Lecture / Demonstration by Prof. Yang Xin University of Beijing 6/20/04

Chinese Pictographs Scorpion The development of the character wan (falling tone) (scorpion): from left to right, archaic Shang, oracle Shang, and modern.

Sheep The development of the character yang (rising tone) (sheep): from left to right, archaic, small seal, and modern.

Oracle Bone Script

(Zhuan script or seal characters)

Oracle Bones

The earliest Oracle Bone dates back 8,000 years ago

The

1 st

was

discovered

in N. Hunan Province in

1899.

Since then, 150,000 more oracle bones have been found bearing more than 4,500 characters

A new discovery in Xanxi province reveals another 600 characters.

A lecture by

Professor Yang Liluen

examined the history and development of Chinese writing and discussed pottery that was unearthed in Texas and Arizona which bears Chinese Script. He also sited DNA studies by Emery University Scientists which points to a relationship between Native Americans and the Chinese.

Lishu or Clerical Script

Lishu

First Official Script

Qin Dynasty

(221-207 B.C.)

Zhang Zuyi (1849 1917)

Calligraphy in Clerical Script, ink on paper 52 3/8 x 26 inches

Zhang Zuyi was born in Tongcheng, Anhui Province. His was also known by his literary name Lei. Zhang Zuyi learned the seal style calligraphy from ancient styles of Shigu and Zhongding. His official style was the style of the Han Dynasty ( 202 B.C. -220 A.D.).

stone tablets. and

Kaishu or Regular Script “Standing”

Kaishu or Regular Script

The oldest existing example dates from the Wei (220-265), which simplified the Lishu. Kaishu script was further developed under the Jin (265-420) and continued to develop into the standard writing of today

Xingshu

(semi cursive)

lies somewhere between the

kaishu

(regular) and

caoshu

(grass) scripts in that at times the strokes are controlled and regular and at other times free and flowing.

“Walking”

Xingshu

(semi cursive) “Walking”

Caoshu Grass or Cursive Script “Running”

This cursive style of calligraphy by Wen Zhengming (1470-1559) has been called "The Dance of the Brush." It is used as a means of artistic expression: the character itself is less important than its expressive quality .

The Four Treasures

The INK

The STONE

The Brush

The Paper

Paper was invented in China. It is said that paper was invented in the year 105 by a man called Cai Lun. He lived in Shaanxi province during the Han dynasty almost 1900 years ago.

Prof.

Yang Xin Beijing Univ.

6/19/04

Prof.

Yang Xin Beijing Univ.

6/19/04

Prof.

Yang Xin Beijing Univ.

6/19/04

Brush Holding Position

Penghua Zhu University of Florida Graduate Student http://plaza.ufl.edu/pzhu/project/project.htm

SPRING Three + Human + Sun = Spring

2 year Old Calligrapher

8 Basic Strokes of Chinese Calligraphy

Dot Stroke

Simplified Characters

In an effort to increase literacy, about 2,000 of the characters used in China have been simplified. These simplified characters are also used in Singapore, but in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Malaysia the traditional characters are still used. Here are some examples (simplified characters in red):

Shu Fa : ABSTRACTION

Horse

QuickTime™ and a Motion JPEG OpenDML decompressor are needed to see this picture.

Anger Professor Yang Xin Calligraphy Demonstration Beijing University, 6/19/04

QuickTime™ and a Motion JPEG OpenDML decompressor are needed to see this picture.

Professor Yang Xin Calligraphy Demonstration Beijing University, 6/19/04

Dragon

Dreaming

Jade

“Coming of Spring” By Xin Yang “I heard the girl was setting flowers downstairs”.

Famous Tang Dynasty Poem

Happiness

Karma

Smiling

SPRING Three + Human + Sun = Spring

Spring

Spring Summer Fall Winter

Chinese Oracle Bone and Tortoise Shell Inscriptions Three Kinds of Archaic Graphs and their Transitions to Modern Characters Top Row: Complex single-element graphs whose modern parallels are direct descendants of archaic forms. Middle Row: Simple multiple-element graphs lacking modern equivalents. Bottom Row: Complex multi-element graphs with either modern descendants or equivalents.