Chinese Calligraphy Made Easy : A Structured Course in Creating Beautiful Brush Lettering

by Yue, Rebecca

• ISBN13: 9780823005567
• ISBN10: 0823005569
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2005-04-01
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill

Summary

Most courses in Chinese Calligraphy go slowly. Very slowly. They teach patience. "Chinese Calligraphy Made Easy teaches "calligraphy--"and teaches it fast. While most programs force students to learn all of the many basic brushstrokes first, Rebecca Yue's method starts with a few key strokes, then puts them together to make characters starting with the very first lesson. Students get motivated and stay motivated as the accomplishments keep coming--"as soon as a few characters have been mastered, they are ready for such projects as a bonsai pot, a T-shirt, a vase, and greeting cards. The method is innovative, the learning solid: the five major styles of Chinese calligraphy (Kai Shu, Hsing Shu, Chuan Shu, Li Shu, and Tsao) are covered in depth. Foldout flaps offer quick reference for key brushstrokes. Now anyone can learn this 4,000-year-old art in just a few weeks!

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 8
Materials and Equipment	p. 12
Brushes	p. 14
Paper	p. 18
Ink and Other Accessories	p. 22
Preparation	p. 24
Preparing the Brushes	p. 26
Holding and Loading the Brush	p. 28
Basic Techniques	p. 30
Wrist and Elbow Movements	p. 32
Pressing and Lifting the Brush	p. 34
Basic Brushstrokes	p. 36
Horizontal Brushstrokes	p. 38
Vertical Brushstrokes	p. 40
Combining Horizontal and Vertical Brushstrokes	p. 42
More Chinese Words to Try	p. 44
Writing the Word for "Luck"	p. 46
Dots	p. 48
More Dots	p. 50
Making a Traditional Writing Book	p. 52
Hooks	p. 56
More Hooks	p. 58
More Chinese Words to Try	p. 60
Writing the Word for "Long Life"	p. 62
Press and Lift Upward	p. 66
Press and Lift Downward	p. 68
More Chinese Words to Try	p. 70
Writing the Words for "Happiness in Suffering"	p. 72
Diagonal Brushstroke to the Left	p. 76
Angled Diagonal Brushstroke to the Left	p. 78
Wishing Someone Success in a New Career	p. 80
Diagonal Brushstroke to the Right	p. 82
Horizontal Form of the Diagonal Brushstroke to the Right	p. 84
Round End Form of the Diagonal Brushstroke to the Right	p. 86
More Chinese Words to Try	p. 88
Wedding Wishes	p. 90
Using All the Brushstrokes to Write "Lasting"	p. 92
A "Lasting" Greeting Card	p. 94
The Five Golden Rules	p. 96
Golden Rule 1: Start with the upper part of a word, then move downward	p. 98
Golden Rule 2: Start with the left part of a word, then move to the right	p. 100
Golden Rule 3: Horizontal brushstrokes precede vertical brushstrokes	p. 102
Golden Rule 4: Diagonal brushstrokes to the left precede diagonal strokes to the right	p. 104
Golden Rule 5: The box rule - finish everything inside the box before closing it	p. 106
Using the Golden Rules	p. 108
The Five Styles of Chinese Calligraphy	p. 112
The Different Scripts	p. 114
Chuan Shu	p. 116
Li Shu	p. 118
Tsao Shu	p. 120
Kai Shu	p. 122
Hsing Shu	p. 124
Useful Greetings	p. 130
Mounting a Xuan Paper Artwork	p. 132
Gallery	p. 138
Glossary	p. 152
Suppliers, Index, and Acknowledgments	p. 156
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