Chinese calligraphy : an introduction to its aesthetic and technique : with 6 plates and 155 text illustratons

THE STROKES

Although these examples by no means comprise all the strokes of Chinese calligraphy, they are sufficient, if properly mastered, to enable the pupil to write almost any character. The fact that we are accustomed to praise a single well-executed stroke, quite apart from the meaning of the character or even the execution of the other strokes in it, testifies to the high value we place upon good brushwork.

Every character is formed, of course, by combining several strokes, and the methods by which this is accomplished are the next thing to be learnt. Here are two examples (more are

Jen means ‘man’ Li means ‘ force’ FIG. IOI

unnecessary). The character fen (A) is a combination of the ‘slightly-curved pieh’ and the ‘ duck-beak Na’. The character Li (Jj) is a combination of the ‘ wrapping-up hook’ and the ‘long-straight pieh’. Knowledge of the direction of particular strokes helps the writer to grasp the order of the strokes in a character. The dotted lines in the figures indicate this.

We have four terms to describe the quality of strokes: Bone, Flesh, Muscle, and Blood. For we look at strokes and characters from an animistic point of view. Thus Lady Wei said :

In the writing of those who are skilful in giving strength to their strokes,

the characters are ‘bony’; in the writing of those who are not thus skilful, [ 163 ]