Chinese Calligraphy: Chinese Calligraphy As An Art Form By Lee J Avery Chinese calligraphy began in 213 B.C. by Prime Minister Li Szu who created over 3000 characters to be used by the scholars. The five different styles, zhuan-shu, li-shu, kai-shu,xing-shu, and cao-shu, are all forms used in calligraphy. One word can be written in different ways depending on the style and the execution of that style. The word can be fluid, formal, exact, whimsicalit all is in the hand of the application and unique personal deliverance of the strokes. Many masters from the beginning of origin to now have left their work for us to enjoy as art today. When you begin to study calligraphy, you will adopt a style which is distinctive to you and perfect the strokes as your own form of self expression. The artistic value of calligraphy is in the skill and method is exclusive to the particular creative ability delivering it. When well done, the words interpretations are more leaning to abstract art, then anything else.
Chinese characters have been defined as complicated yet beautiful in their meaning. They are complex in relation to other writing languages. Romanization is used in terms of relation or simple visual information, however the meaning of the character remains mysterious as the art styles behind it. Some characters mimic similar tones of other characters, yet have different meanings. Some characters written with just an added dot or stroke, turn into something totally different.
Of history, the crowning achievement to their culture, is the characters. They are an abstract art form displaying incredible depth of meaning in just a few brushstrokes. This thick symbolism has made it's way into mainstream art from centuries gone and desirable still today.
As you learn calligraphy, you will notice that traditionally certain materials are used in a particular way to produce the eloquent results. The use special brushes made of rabbit hair or sheep. One brush is for sharpness in line drawing, and the other for rhythm and depth all equaling to the subject's inner self. Also used in calligraphy, is a thick ground ink combined with water and applied to paper (also called rice paper) or silk. This form shows depth, contrast, density and texture and creates a rhythmic balance. When the apply color to this art form, it is to show the subject's characteristics or moods.
Another unique quality to calligraphy is the poetry inscribed within it. It becomes the artist's signature or inscription exclusive to them. Calligraphy minimizes the use of space, sometimes leaving a canvas almost blank, with just a few brushstrokes leaving a word to contemplate on. The styles of this writing do not embrace crowding compositions with too much and badly placed brushstrokes.
More than likely, you will choose a few complimentary to your own personality and self-expression. Rich information and cultural history is born from learning to write characters. The ability to dive into a whole new world is invigorating and creating the beautiful work is self actualization process all on it's own.
Whether you embark on learning
to write one character well to display as art on your wall, or you continue with the craft to put words together, even learning to read Chinese, it is rewarding. The more you unravel the mystery living inside each of these characters, it seems to create added curiosity and a desire to keep going.
The ancient art of characters are popularized in cultures other than Chinese. The styles and forms of characters seen everywhere, are now a highly demanded art to learn.
Information supplied and written by Lee J Avery is the owner of the site about Learn Chinese. Articles,News,Resources and Video about Learn Calligraphy Click here to get your own unique version of this article from the Unique Articles Submissions Service
|
|
