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

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THE STROKES

The ‘ Phenix-Wing Hook’, Feng-Chth-Kou ( 鳳 4 38), 1s written by drawing the point of the brush from left to right, raising it slightly at the turning-point, then sweeping downwards and to the right, and finally turning upwards to form a hook.

The ‘ Twisted Hook’, Niu-Kou (4k $4), is so called because in writing it the brush-point is twisted from the right to the left and then to the right again ; near the end the brush turns to the left once more and ends in a left upward hook.

The ‘Dragon-Tail Hook’, Lung-Wei-Kou (#E #2 39), is so called because in the Chinese character for dragon the last stroke is of this

- shape. When written quickly in Hsing-Shu or

K*ai-Shu, it is really very like the tail of a dragon. The first part of the stroke is vertical; at the base of it the brush turns to the right horizontally, and ends in an upward hook.

The ‘ Floating-Swan Hook’, -Yu-Wo-Kou (i #5 34), is written in nearly the same way as the last, but the stroke is undulating and the hook restrained. Indeed, the hook is hardly visible, but one has the impression that it is there.

The * Supporting Hook, T‘o-Kou (4 $9). Charac-

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ters which have many strokes in the upper part are generally “ supported’ by this stroke as a handle or axis. downwards and then turning it to the left to form a

It is written by moving the brush smoothly

rather long hook.

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