So many people will practice calligraphy, such as running script, regular script, cursive script, thin gold body and so on. In the 5,000-year history of China, famous calligraphers abound. Speaking of regular script, we have to mention a person who is praised by the world for his official script. Who is this person and what are his characteristics?
Say this person's name, and many calligraphy lovers will suddenly realize, Oh, it's him, yes, it's Ou Yangxun. Ou Yangxun's regular script is neat and standardized, with a strong pen and a clear and neat pen collection.
It was once commented in the Qing Dynasty that Ou Yangxun's words focused on the use of the force between his fingers, and his strokes were rigorous and powerful, and his character was vigorous, neither too plump nor too slender. Every painting is perfect. One more point is too long, one less point is too short, the weight is appropriate, and the length is appropriate.
Of course, his calligraphy not only uses the power between his fingers, but also tries to use a pen to strictly control the strength of the middle part of the stroke, that is, a simple horizontal stroke interrupts the fullness of the pen; There are also some characters whose main strokes extend outward to show the compactness of the characters, especially when writing vertical paintings on the right side, which often have upward exaggerated extension. Ou Yangxun's unique composition shows his extraordinary courage.
Ou Yangxun also created the Eight Methods, which explained his unique views on calligraphy for people. In the Tang Dynasty, some people commented that his Eight Strategies applied brushwork to the extreme, perfectly showing the endless danger of great strength.
Brief introduction to the life of Ou Yangxun, one of the four masters of regular script.
When we apply for a job, we all have to submit resumes. Imagine if our great calligrapher Ou Yangxun wanted to find a job, how would his resume be written?
Should I write that I am one of the four masters in the early Tang Dynasty and list my achievements in calligraphy one by one, or should I submit my works directly? However, he is the conclusion given to him by the four great figures in the early Tang Dynasty, which seems to be useless. Of course, in ancient times, you didn't need a resume to apply for an official position, as long as someone recommended it.
Ou Yangxun lived through three dynasties, namely Southern Dynasty, Sui Dynasty and Tang Dynasty. Of course, the imperial examination system was implemented in the Sui Dynasty, so Ou Yangxun can also serve the country through the imperial examination.
Ou Yangxun held many official positions in his life, all of which were related to etiquette or document compilation, which proved his accomplishments in literature and calligraphy. If you think it is wrong to be a civil servant as long as you have knowledge, you have to write well. If others don't know what you wrote, the book you made up is useless.
Therefore, Ou Yangxun, who is highly accomplished in calligraphy, still has great advantages. His masterpieces "Lanting Collection" and "Thirty-six Plans" are enough to make people look up. Besides these, Ou Yangxun is also good at inscriptions. According to incomplete statistics, there are more than a dozen regular scripts on Ouyang Xu's inscriptions. Of course, only four experts have identified them, but this is enough for many people to use for a lifetime.
Besides, everything else was forged by later generations, and it was also because people's words were popular.
Yang Shiqi in Ming Dynasty once commented on Ou Yangxun's calligraphy, saying that his brushwork was solemn and had a literati character, which was both elegant and disciplined in Jin Dynasty. As a beginner, as long as you keep learning, you will definitely achieve something.
Full text of the inscription on Liquan in Jiucheng Palace, Ou Yangxun
Ou Yangxun's "Jiuchenggong Liquan Inscription" refers to the calligraphy carved by Ou Yangxun. The author is Wei Zhi, who mainly tells the story of Emperor Taizong's summer vacation in Jiucheng Palace. Ou Yangxun's inscription on the ritual spring of Jiucheng Palace is the pinnacle of his calligraphy works in his later years, which has become a template for later generations to copy.
The inscription, with 24 lines1108, tells some interesting stories of Emperor Taizong during his summer vacation, reflecting the grand occasion of the prosperous Tang Dynasty at that time, but it has been seriously damaged now. One reason is that the age is really long, and the words are not clear after the erosion of the environment. Another reason is too many rubbings. Although the back has been repaired and a large part of it has been restored, it can't be seen completely, and even the sharpness between Ou Yangxun's fonts has been lost.
But judging from the only fonts, it is not difficult to see that the brushwork is very strong. Although the font is thin, it is still rich, and the brushwork is more subtle and tends to be solemn and rigorous. As we all know, Ou Yangxun's calligraphy is characterized by preciseness, which is also obvious in the tablet inscription of Liquan in Jiucheng Palace in Ou Yangxun. The difference is that because it is carved on a stone tablet, the lines between the lines are enlarged a lot and look clearer.
The inscription on Liquan in Jiuchenggong, Ou Yangxun is a rare work of Ou Yangxun, which is more sought after than other works, because the inscription is easier to copy, and because the font is relatively clearer, it is easier to interpret the characteristics of Ou Yangxun's calligraphy and is convenient for researchers to use. It can be said that The Inscription of Liquan in Ou Yangxun Jiucheng Palace is not only the peak work of Ou Yangxun in his later years, but also a relatively advanced work even compared with his life's works.
How about Ou Yangxun's 36 methods?
China's calligraphy reached its peak in the Tang Dynasty. Anyone who likes calligraphy should know that "European style" is the most suitable for beginners, that is, the calligraphy of Ou Yangxun, one of the four masters in the early Tang Dynasty. Of course, people who have copied Ou Yangxun's fonts must know his 36 methods. This is a skill about the structure of Chinese characters that he summed up from his own experience, and it is a masterpiece for the benefit of future generations.
In this paper, the word-formation situations encountered in the writing process are divided into 36 kinds and interpreted one by one. For example, overlapping words means that when we write, we should plan the shape of words according to the number of strokes and the length of fonts. Top wear refers to the formation of a word. If the top is big and the bottom is small, you must write it correctly to look good. There are many strokes on the top and few words on the bottom. Pay special attention when writing, so as not to give people a frivolous feeling.
Interpolation is a method to coordinate font size and density. For example, the word "book" runs through the horizontal pen and can be balanced with diagonal lines. To give way is to encounter words with left and right structures. If the strokes are too crowded, but fewer strokes will make people feel scattered, then you must not let the radicals fight with the radicals when writing, and plan the structure reasonably.
Ou Yangxun's calligraphy is a popular font in the early Tang Dynasty and later generations. His handwriting is steady and not frivolous, which is very suitable for people to practice their hands now. There are many skills in his thirty-six strategies, which can even be said to be taught word by word.
In short, if you want to write good-looking words, you will certainly gain something by reading 36 methods.
How to evaluate Ou Yangxun Jiucheng Palace?
Ou Yangxun Jiuchenggong generally refers to "Jiuchenggong Liquan Ming" inscribed by Ou Yangxun for Jiuchenggong. The original author is Wei Zhi, and Ou Yangxun has just written this article and set up a monument.
There are 24 lines of 49 words in Ou Yangxun Jiuchenggong Inscription, which is the representative work of Ou Yangxun in his later years. It not only has the value of calligraphy research, but also can be used as data for studying the history of the Tang Dynasty. Ou Yangxun Jiucheng Palace has a high position in China calligraphy circle. Until today, Ou Yangxun Jiucheng Palace is still regarded as a treasure by many calligraphers. Unfortunately, although Ou Yangxun Jiucheng Palace is very clear as an inscription, which is more suitable for copying, due to the long-term environmental impact and numerous rubbings, Ou Yangxun Jiucheng Palace is not clear enough now. However, due to timely protection, most of Ou Yangxun Jiucheng Palace has been preserved.
So what is Jiucheng Palace written by Ou Yangxun Jiucheng Palace? Jiucheng Palace is actually the summer resort of Emperor Wendi of Sui Dynasty, with nine floors in total. During the Tang Dynasty, it was changed to Wannian Palace, which was a good place for emperors to spend the summer. But 90% of these palaces were built by the rulers on the basis of squeezing the people. Now 90% of this palace is in Shaanxi, which has become a tourist area.
Ou Yangxun's Jiucheng Palace is actually like the preface of a book, and Ou Yangxun prefaces the building. Although these contents were not written by Ou Yangxun himself, the later world paid more attention to Ou Yangxun's calligraphy. As for the original article of Jiuchenggong, the attention is low. Ou Yangxun Jiucheng Palace has attracted much attention because it is a rare and legible work left by Ou Yangxun.
Brief introduction of Ou Yangxun ancient tablet, one of the four masters of regular script.
When Ou Yangxun first learned calligraphy, he mainly practiced the calligraphy of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi. Later, he absorbed the methods and experience of regular script in Han Li and Wei and Jin Dynasties, and finally combined his own ideas to form a whole and created his own style.
Ou Yangxun started reading and writing at an early age. When he was young, he was interested in history and was proficient in history books, among which calligraphy was his favorite, almost to the point of obsession. There is also a small story that illustrates Ou Yangxun's love for calligraphy and his spirit of assiduous study.
It is said that once, when Ou Yangxun was playing outside, he saw a stone tablet written by Suo Jing, a calligrapher in the Western Jin Dynasty. After reading it for a while, he thought it was so and left. But after walking a hundred steps, he thought again. Suo Jing is a famous calligrapher, so he must have unique characteristics and style. Then I read the copy several times, only to find out what is worth studying in depth. So Ou Yangxun groped around the stone tablet for three days and nights, and finally realized the essence of Suo Jing's calligraphy pen, that is, Ou Yangxun's diligent spirit, which improved his calligraphy level and eventually made him a great calligrapher.
In the Sui Dynasty, Ou Yangxun's calligraphy was already very famous, and in the Tang Dynasty, it was even more perfect. However, Ou Yangxun still strives for perfection, and it is never too old to learn. This spirit is worth learning now.
Calligraphy theory, the "Eight Methods of Ou Yangxun" founded by him, has a unique view on calligraphy, which has certain enlightenment for later calligraphy works. His eight strokes mainly focus on how to put pen to paper, which is the realm pursued by calligraphy practitioners.