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

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CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY

The ‘Long Hook’, Chang-Kou (£& 49), generally forms a triangle at the base. It is written first as if for a vertical stroke; then, near the bottom, the brush is shifted slightly to the right to make the first angle; next it moves downwards, then again upwards a little, finally it stretches out to the left.

The ‘ Flat Hook’, P‘ing-Kou (4 $9). The first part is written like a horizontal stroke, from the left, but as the brush reaches the right extremity it is lowered down and then stretches out to the left to form the hook.

The ‘ Horizontal Hook’, Heng-Kou (tx #1), is written from the left, the brush moving first to the left, then inclining to the right until the line is level as in the figure ; then, after a short pause at the right extremity, the hook finishes by curving upwards to the left.

This is a ‘ Ké Hook’, Ké-Kou (& #9). A Ké is an ancient Chinese fighting weapon something like a javelin and shaped like the form in this figure. It is written first slightly upwards, then with a downward inclination to the right, and ends in an upward hook.

This is the ‘Nu Hook’, Nu-Kou (3 3). Nu is a kind of bow. ‘The stroke is written first horizontally, then turns downwards to form a vertical stroke, and ends with a leftward hook.

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