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

THE STYLES

In the reproduction of it (Fig. 18), it will be seen that the characters are of uniform size, and every line is of equal thickness, smoothly curved and well balanced. The style has two other names: Yii-Ching-Chiian ( fii 3), which means Jade Muscle Seal Writing, and T‘ieh-Hsien-Chiian (%% #8 2) or Iron Wire Seal Writing (the last a term also used in figure painting). It is a style much practised by calligraphers and painters with the object of acquiring assurance of stroke and mastery of pattern. Li Yang-Ping (4 & tk) of T’ang dynasty, uncle of the famous poet Li P‘o ( A), was a devoted follower of Li Szu, and a pioneer of this style; later calligraphers adopted his work as a model. Succeeding generations of Small Seal writers blended elements from other styles with the original, in this way giving play to their individual taste. Of these numerous modifications I can give only a few examples here, but they will be sufficient to show how much variation within the bounds of a single style is possible in Chinese calligraphy.

Although seal writing had originally no connexion with the engraving of seals, it is nevertheless always used for that purpose. The designing and carving of seals, itself a form of art, developed independently. But without a thorough acquaintance with the ancient Seal writing, it is very difficult to appreciate the beauty of seals.

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