Chinese calligraphy lessons: 3. Models

This lesson is about models. Choose a Kaishu model to start off. Ouyang Xun, Liu Gongquan, and Yan Zhenqing are recommended. Beware of fake, enlarged, or diminished models.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Chinese
• calligraphy
• shufa
• shodo
• lessons
• tutorial
• English
• model

[CornerTalker]

Question from absolute beginner - Why use stone rubbings which may be in rough shape? Why shouldn't a beginner use the work of a modern calligrapher, whose work would be clearer? Why not let the expert level handle the stone rubbings?

[001Asoer]

@CornerTalker It's complicated. I can give you more details in PM if you want. First to establish why copy anyway: to obtain the rules. Even though it might not be your final destination, you have to go through the phase of copying another's handwriting. As to why use stone rubbings: They are the most accurate source. Although later writing might be more precise, they sacrifice accuracy. Furthermore, experts may not be experts. I might even be lying to all of you. The only thing you can trust...

[001Asoer]

@CornerTalker ...with certainty, is the original source: the models. They are the primary source of almost all information that can be distributed by teachers and scholars.

[SF10888]

At 6:52, the term "black tiger" is also used generally to refer to stone rubbings, not necessarily bad ones. (There are many books that use the term to refer to bei tie.)

[001Asoer]

@SF10888 Thanks.

[001Asoer]

@Belikel His 楷書 is also very good, but at that time, 楷書 was not fully developed. It was not until the Tang Dynasty, and 唐楷 is considered better than Jin Dynasty 楷書, even though 王羲之 is in no way inferior to 歐顏柳趙. I also didn't recommend 趙 because his 楷書 has too much 行書 in it.