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

TRAINING

or to move it about at all while writing. The slightest motion impedes the control of the arm and upsets the focus of the eye. The body should form an immobile base from which the arm can operate like the ‘arm’ of a crane. The left elbow is bent naturally and the left hand rests on the paper, to hold it, like a paper-weight. The right elbow is bent and the right hand holds the vertical brush, the position of the right hand and forearm being at about right angles to the left hand and forearm. The head, obviously, is inclined slightly towards the paper; the neck may be stretched a little if desired. The tendency of beginners to lie forward on the table must be corrected; nor must they be allowed to crouch down at their writing with the head tilted sideways, like cocks and hens looking for scraps of food. These faults inevitably result in bad writing and bad health.

Never try to write until you have calmed yourself completely. Any sort of rush before writing is fatal. You would not expect to be able to play the piano well immediately after running half a mile in the park! First concentrate on the characters to be written and work out patterns for them. This will induce a state of tranquillity in your mind and enable you to execute them as you wish.

For beginners, the four writing instruments need not be of specially good quality. Indeed, even accomplished writers frequently use for common purposes instruments which can be bought very cheaply of any stationer in China.1 The inkStick is generally made of oil-smoke and the brush of sheep’s

*I am afraid they are not obtainable at all in Europe. But they can be had on application, in English, to The Commercial Press, Ltd., or the Chung Hua Book Company, both of Honan Road, Shanghai, China.

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