中国书法自学丛书-隶书自学教程（汉英）

Chinesecalligraphy,thecoreoftheOrientalarts,reflectsthetemperamentoftheChinesenation.Theblackandwhite,dotsandlinesareanexpressionofthespiritsandimagesofNature,reflectingacalligrapher'sfeelingsandknowledge.Calligraphy'sprofoundartisticessenceliesinthecombinationoffeelingandrationale,formandspirit,richstructureandvividrhythm-aperfectbalancebetweentheformandtheideologicalcontentexpressedinacharacter.Thoughdevoidofcolor,calligraphyisvariouslycoloredaspainting;andwithoutsound,itcontainsmelodiesjustlikemusic.Chinesecalligraphyhasalonghistory,rangingfromthekeepingofrecordsbytyingknotsbeforeCangJieinventedwriting,tothecharactersonearthenwarediscoveredatDawenkouandinscriptionsonbonesortortoiseshellsoftheShangDynasty(c.16th-1lthcenturyBC).Likealongrunningriver,Chinesecalligraphyhasevolvedduringthousandsofyears,characterizedbysimplicityandunsophisticationintheShangandZhoudynasties(c.16thcentury-221BC),splendorintheQinandHartdynasties(221BC-AD220),gracefulbearingin'theWeiandJindynasties(220-420),magnificenceintheSuiandTangdynasties(581-907),radiatingvigorintheSongandYuandynasties(960-1368),prosperityintheMingandQingdynasties(1368-191l)andgrandeurinthecurrentera.Chinesecharactersfallintothefollowingstyles:regular,running,grass,officialandsealscripts.Sealscriptsmaybedividedintolargeandsmallcharacters;officialscripts,intoQinandHartstyles;grasscharacters,intoZhang(cursiveofficial),Jin(modem)andKuang(wild)scripts;andregularcharacters,intoWeiandTangscripts.Chinesecalligraphynotonlyreflectsthecharacterofindividualcalligrapher,butalsopresentsthestylesandflavorsofdifferentregionsanderas.ChinahasalwaysregardedcalligraphyasthequintessenceofChinesecultureandanationaltreasureaswell.Calligraphyisarequiredcourseatschoolandeveryeducatedpersonmuststudycalligraphy.