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

THE STROKES

These three dots are a combination of two ‘two-faced’ dots and one ‘ beak’ dot. GW S ip They stand rather close as if the middle dot were either being received by the outer two or thrown from the left dot to the right.

These four dots, a combination of one “upward ’ dot, two ‘ two-faced’ dots and one 9 y y vd “tiger-claw’ dot, are called the Fire Radical. The meaning of any character which includes this sign has something to do with fire.

These four dots are called Four-dots-back-to-

為 為 back, Pei-Szu-Tien (# 09 Bi) because they are not

of YD written in the same direction though they are closely related, as you can see.

These four dots we call Four-dots-packedA together, Ho-Szu-Tien (4 四 24). They areacomG w iD bination of two ‘two-faced’ dots and two ‘ beak ’

dots.

The dot in Chinese calligraphy has very numerous varieties of shape. The examples I have given are only the most common ; there are others like willow-leaves, Chinese orchidpetals, chestnuts, &c. Dots are always written instantaneously with a very slight movement of the brush-hair.

This “Hortzontal’ Stroke, Heng-Hua (i #), is written first to the left, then to the right, then GQ. slightly to the left again. The general direction is horizontal, but the stroke rises slightly at the right end to give a touch of liveliness.

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