The Art of Chinese Calligraphy

by Jean Long

If you look into a Chinese dictionary, you will find fifty to sixty thousand characters — each with its own structure, and each presenting a unique challenge to the practitioner of the graceful art of Chinese calligraphy. In this fascinating, informative guidebook by an expert in the field, this ancient art comes alive for beginners and advanced calligraphers alike.
The author provides both practical instruction in Chinese calligraphy and an absorbing historical background — from the pictographic beginnings of Chinese writing, more than 4,000 years ago, down to Kai, Hsing, and Tsao styles (each over 1,000 years old) that have endured to the present day. The basic construction of individual characters is explained, as are the many ways in which calligraphy is used by Chinese artists. Separate chapters are devoted to Chinese calligraphy as an art form, language as a way of understanding Chinese thought, Chinese porcelain and ceramics, calligraphic seals, and inscriptions on paintings.
The book's final chapters comprise a detailed, step-by-step guide to using Chinese painting equipment and to mastering the techniques needed to create stunning examples of brushwork calligraphy. This book will delight artists and calligraphers as well as all readers interested in Chinese art and culture or in the development of writing.

Genres: Reference

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[David Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting primer on the history and aesthetic evolution of its subject, along with some beautiful examples of the form. The last chapter contains a fairly detailed description of the tools and techniques required to produce Chinese calligraphy in the traditional manner, but seems to be lesser in scope than what would be required to go beyond an elementary level.

One thing I would have appreciated more about would be a detailed comparison between certain characters' standard forms, and some of the examples of cursive forms. Though the author does discuss the ways characters can be modified to achieve balance and grace when combined with each other, I failed to grasp the boundary of legibility. Since I don't read Chinese, I can appreciate the forms but I can't know their meanings without a translation; consequently, I can only take the author's word that one character and a seemingly different one are in fact the same.

Maybe I should learn to read Chinese then.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to own a copy, so-so. You would need additional material to learn calligraphy, not just this book.