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.