Today’s Enlightening Entertainment will be presented in Chinese, with subtitles in Arabic, Aulacese (Vietnamese), Chinese, English, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Thai and Spanish.

Welcome, artistic viewers, to Enlightening Entertainment. In today’s episode, we are introducing the unique writing art: shufa or Chinese brush calligraphy.

Chinese brush calligraphy is the hand writing of Chinese characters by using a soft-tipped brush. It has been used historically as a common means of communication in ancient China. Shufa, literally translated, is the art of the hand writing. “Shu” (calligraphy), together with “hua” (painting), “qin” (a string musical instrument) and “qi” (a strategic board game), are regarded as the four fundamental skills and disciplines of the Chinese literati.

Now let’s join a private tutoring session conducted by Professor Huang Yang of the Department of Fine Arts at Huafan University, Formosa (Taiwan).

An expert in shufa, Professor Huang Yang speaks with us about the history of the Chinese brush calligraphy.

It's been around for a long time. The graceful lines on some unearthed ancient potteries were painted by brush. So based on that, the brush must have been around for at least 5,000 years. That's why we say that our Chinese culture spanned 5,000 years. But it was about 3,000 years ago that people started using the brush to write.

Since the very beginning, people already had a great appreciation for the pictographic and ideographic Chinese characters. With the invention of paper, calligraphy became increasingly acknowledged as an art form.

When paper became widely used about 1,500 years ago, people developed a higher standard of calligraphy. And the calligraphers started to pay attention to the expression of their personal characteristics, styles and feelings. As a result, the artistic standard of calligraphy became higher as well.

Ms. Chiu Shuan-chi, a teacher at Yazhai Children’s Calligraphy Association further explains the importance of Chinese brush calligraphy in ancient Chinese society.

In ancient times, under the imperial civil service examination system, calligraphy was part of the evaluation in the exam. In addition, many emperors in history highly valued the importance of calligraphy. In Han, Tang, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, many emperors not only paid a lot of attention to calligraphy, but were also calligraphers themselves. Some emperors even established an official position called Minister of Calligraphy.

To appreciate the art of shufa, we should first recognize the essential instruments used in Chinese brush calligraphy. They are the brush, ink stick, paper, and ink stone, known as the “four treasures of the study.” Among the four treasures, the unique features of the brush affect the overall presentation of a calligrapher’s writing the most.

The brush is the most outstanding invention among the Chinese writing tools. Since the soft brush head is in the shape of a pointed cone, it can twist and turn very smoothly, and one can write all kinds of strokes with it.

Chinese calligraphy originated from writing Chinese characters with brushes, which itself originated from painting. Chinese calligraphy has generally evolved into five common scripts. They are seal script, clerical script, cursive script, semi-cursive script, and regular script.

The seal script was popular before the Qin Dynasty and the clerical script was widely used after the Han Dynasty. The Chinese script evolved into two styles. One is the development of the formal script, which was used on formal occasions. The other one is the cursive script, which was used in daily communications. These two styles of script were both used in the history of calligraphy.

In the Han Dynasty, the clerical script emerged, and it became the formal script used on official occasions.

Gradually as cursive script developed, it became very simplified and resembled symbols that only a few people could read. The semi-cursive script and regular script were then developed and widely used in daily communication by common people. Now, let’s get our “four treasures of the study” ready! When we come back after some brief messages, Professor Huang Yang and Ms. Chiu Shuan-chi will show us how to write shufa. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television.

Welcome back to Enlightening Entertainment on Supreme Master Television. There are both internal and external preparations associated with practicing Chinese brush calligraphy. Professor Huang Yang and Ms. Chiu Shuan-chi explain.

When you first start, you should learn how to grind the ink. When you finish grinding the ink, and you sit in the correct posture, you can rest the ink stick on the ink slab. After that, you should cultivate the mindset for writing calligraphy. You should adjust your mindset so that it is in a tranquil state.

Calligraphy is also a kind of kung fu, a kind of qigong, because when you are writing calligraphy, your whole body will be in a special state that is different from the state you are in when you are doing other things. While you are writing calligraphy, your breathing will slow down and each breath will last longer. It's one of the reasons why the calligraphers in ancient times lived long lives.

Holding the brush correctly and sitting correctly are the basics of calligraphy. How do you hold a brush? It is different from holding a pencil. What's the right way to sit? Nowadays, children sit in a slouching position. One should sit upright. It helps you write nicely and it is good for your health as well because your circulation system works well when you sit in that position.

The 95-year-old senior calligraphy and ink painting artist Professor Chang Kuang-pin, who has devoted over 70 years of his life to mastering and promoting Chinese brush calligraphy, also mentions the many benefits of practicing shufa. In order to become proficient in shufa, experts and teachers recommend emulating a master calligrapher’s masterpiece as the first step. The Chinese term “lin mo” (emulation) actually contains two processes: “lin” (observe) and “mo” (imitate).

To learn calligraphy, one should start by following good calligraphy models of the ancient people. One way of doing that is to put the model on the side and try to write each line and stroke like those in the model. Another way is to trace the models. You can put the model under your practice sheet and trace the characters. Through tracing, we can quickly learn the structure of the characters and the thickness and the length of each stroke. Then you can take out the model and practice by imitating. So these are the two ways to practice calligraphy.

One of the most influential and notable masters of Chinese brush calligraphy is Wang Xizhi of he Eastern Jin Dynasty in China, known as the Sage of Calligraphy.

Wang Xizhi was born in Shang Dong province. Wang Xizhi lived in a time when semi-cursive script was prevalent and his calligraphy was the most beautiful of all. He integrated the good points of the calligraphers before him into his writing. Therefore, his work was the most outstanding and he has greatly influenced the later generations.

He has a masterpiece that is regarded as the best semi-cursive calligraphy in the world. Anyone who has learned calligraphy or knows something about calligraphy can recognize this piece called “Preface to the Orchard Pavilion.” Every beginner, who wants to learn the semi-cursive script calligraphy should study, appreciate and imitate his work. Many emperors in the Qing Dynasty regarded his work very highly. Emperors in the Tang Dynasty also liked his work.

Legend has it that Wang Xizhi derived inspiration and enhanced his proficiency in calligraphy from natural forms, such as the graceful necks of geese. Let us enjoy a short story about Wang Xizhi’s deep affection for geese.

It is said that Wang Xizhi was fond of geese. He heard that there was a Taoist living in the north of the mountain, who raised a big flock of beautiful and strong white geese. Therefore, Wang specially travel there early in the morning by boat.

Wow! What pretty geese! Are they all your pets? Could you sell them to me?

Each living being owns its life, how can I sell them to you?

It made sense to Wang, but he couldn’t hide his disappointment at all. At this time, the white geese swam toward him one by one. It made Wang forget his frustration and he began to watch their elegant movement with admiration. Upon seeing this, the Taoist understood that Wang really loved those geese and he felt touched by his request.

Well, since you like the geese so much, you can take them if they agree.

Are you sure about this? Or can I do something to thank you for your favor?

Well, there is nothing but Tao in my mind; I don’t have desires for worldly things. If you really want to do something, how about writing a transcription of the Tao Te Ching?

Wang Xizhi readily accepted and then he started to hand copy the Tao Te Ching. As the sun set, the transcription of the Tao Te Ching was done; Wang then gave it to the Taoist. Under the twilight clouds, he took dozens of white geese back home, singing happily. Some people later even attributed Wang Xizhi’s grasp on calligraphic writing movement to the white geese’s beautiful actions.

The art of shufa is not only practiced in China, but also widely popular in some other Asian civilizations as well. These include Formosa (Taiwan), Japan, Korea, and Âu Lạc (Vietnam). It is a unique art form to Asian cultures that enhances their brilliant and beautiful traditions.

Elegant viewers, thank you for joining us on Enlightening Entertainment. Please stay tuned for Supreme Master Television. Up next is Words of Wisdom, after Noteworthy News. May the arts of different cultures inspire you to be a peacemaker here on Earth.

From a TV repairman in Kabul, Afghanistan to host of “Afghan Star,” the country’s most popular television program…

“Afghan Star” sustained national unity among different groups.

To Pashto-speaking radio host of “Voice of America” in Washington, D.C., USA...

When I came to the US, the only media which I could count on and wished to work for so that I can reach back to my people and to be able to do something for Afghanistan, was “Voice of America.” Wherever his career leads him, Mr. Sediqi dedicates his life to one goal:

I love my homeland very much and my ambition is that I see it in peace and prosperity.

Join us for Enlightening Entertainment on Friday, January 8 for Part 1 of this two-part program as Mr. Daoud Sediqi shares with us his impressive career and love for his beautiful country.