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

CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY

The ‘ Round Hook’, Yiian-Kou ( 圓 4), is written by drawing the point of the brush rightward in a crescent, then leftward to form a hook.

The ‘ Enclosing or Wrapping Hook’, Pao-Kou ( 包 1), is so called because in some characters many strokes are wrapped up init. It is like a lion’s mouth and is written first with a horizontal stroke; then, after a slight upward movement, the brush travels downwards as for a ‘ long-hook’ but inclining to the left.

The ‘ Rightward Hook’, Hsiang-Yu-Kou ( 向 右 鉤 ) is so called because the hook faces right. It is written first with a short vertical stroke slightly inclined to the right, then a movement to the left, and finally upwards to the right.

The ‘ Playing-butterfly ’ Stroke, Hsi-Tieh (15 #%), is actually a combination of a ‘ beak’ dot and an “ apricotkernel’ dot. The ‘ beak’ is written first, then, without a break, the brush turns to the right to form the ‘ apricot-kernel ’ dot.

The ‘ Curled-up Dragon’ Stroke, P‘an-Lung (#& #£), is a combination of two short piehs, two short horizontal strokes and one small dot. They are written as indicated by the arrows.

The ‘ Chanting-insect’ Stroke, Yin-Ch'itung (¥ %)s is a combination of a ‘level Jiao’, a ‘short pieh’ and a ‘round hook’. They are written as indicated by the arrows.

WAM & & <j eve

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