When calligraphy meets writing: Notes on my introductory calligraphy class

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When you think of calligraphy, what comes to your mind? Is it a nightmare from elementary school or junior high school? Many people may know that this is a Chinese culture with a long history, and it should be included in the [intangible cultural heritage] (https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/intangible cultural heritage) that is well protected by the Ministry of Culture or the Palace Museum.

Although my handwriting is not good-looking, I like calligraphy very much. Maybe it’s because I’ve been exposed to it since childhood, or maybe it’s because of the DNA buried in my blood. Although it has been a long, long time since I had the opportunity to write calligraphy, for me, calligraphy and photography are not only a kind of beautiful culture and art, but also have far-reaching significance.

Well, that is a kind of connection that pulls me and my father in the dark. To paraphrase what people often say nowadays, my father is “an artist delayed by real life.” It is said that he has shown artistic talent since he was a child, his calligraphy is excellent, and his photography works often win awards… These stories have now become legends, and I can hardly compare them to them.

Micro-learning for resource exchange

Although my father passed away many years ago, I have never touched calligraphy again. Although I feel a little uneasy in my heart, I am still very happy to have made this decision and started a mini-learning plan. I made an appointment with my friend Teresa Kung to exchange resources: she taught me calligraphy, and I shared with her the secret of writing.

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As soon as nine o’clock in the morning came, she came to my little world. When I saw her taking out a writing brush and writing cloth from her bag, I felt my heart skip a beat… It had been a long time since I had held a writing brush. This really fulfilled the saying I often say in class, “A pen weighs a thousand pounds.”

Teacher Teresa first opened the pre-made briefing and started from the difference between calligraphy and painting. It also helped me understand what brushwork is, and what is the beginning, line and end of a stroke?

Then, he taught me the basic concepts of using a pen, starting from the posture of holding the pen and managing the pen hair. After warming up, I started to practice writing straight lines and round pens on the water writing cloth.

Well, what should I practice calligraphy? Teacher Teresa told me to start from the following three points!

• Strokes: start, line, and end
• Stroke order and gestures
• The intention is to write first (cultivation of eyesight and taste)

In the morning, I seemed to have returned to my long-lost elementary school days. I followed the teacher’s guidance again and began to understand the world of calligraphy stroke by stroke. For me, learning calligraphy is not only about paying attention to the skills of Yongzi Bafa, but also the cultivation of mind.

Calligraphy is the cultivation of mind

I very much agree with what Teacher Teresa said: “When we focus on each moment, use the unique brushwork of calligraphy to carefully write every stroke, face the beginning, line and end of each stroke with sincerity and focus, not being careless and avoiding mistakes, then it will be good calligraphy.”

Everyone has their own aesthetics. I know that I am still far away from the realm of “good calligraphy”…but it doesn’t matter. The principles of learning are all the same: as long as you start, it’s never too late!

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