{"id":184,"date":"2018-07-17T12:17:43","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T12:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/calligraphy\/?post_type=chapter&p=184"},"modified":"2019-01-10T12:39:02","modified_gmt":"2019-01-10T12:39:02","slug":"calligraphy-in-qin-and-han-dynasties","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/intro-to-chinese-calligraphy\/chapter\/calligraphy-in-qin-and-han-dynasties\/","title":{"rendered":"Calligraphy\u00a0And Writing Techniques in\u00a0the\u00a0Qin and Han Dynasties"},"content":{"raw":"
This chapter focuses on the distinctive scripts of early dynasties that are more than 2,000 years old and reviews various brush techniques. It features additional information on seal script.<\/em><\/div>\r\n

Part I. Culture<\/h1>\r\n

1 Qin Dynasty and Calligraphy<\/h2>\r\n

The\u00a0Qin<\/em> Dynasty (\u79e6\/q\u00edn) was the first\u00a0dynasty of\u00a0Imperial China, lasting from 221 to 206 BC. \u79e6\u59cb\u7687\/q\u00edn sh\u012d hu\u00e1ng, the First Emperor of Qin, introduced a range of reforms such as standardized currency, weights, measures, and a uniform system of writing, which aimed to unify the state and promote commerce. The general term\u00a0seal script\u00a0can be used to refer to several types of seal scripts, including the large or great seal script (\u5927\u7bc6\/d\u00e0 zhu\u00e0n) and the lesser or small seal script\u00a0(\u5c0f\u7bc6\/xi\u01ceo zhu\u00e0n). Most commonly, without any other clarifying terminology, seal script refers to the latter. The term large seal script\u00a0itself can also cover a broad variety of scripts. These include a variation of Qin<\/em> writing that is earlier than the small seal characters, but also the earlier Western Zhou<\/em> forms, or even oracle bone characters, as well.<\/p>\r\nClerical script (\u96b6\u4e66\/\u96b8\u66f8\/l\u00ec sh\u016b) evolved in the\u00a0Warring States Period<\/em> (\u6218\u56fd\u65f6\u671f\/\u6230\u570b\u6642\u671f\/zh\u00e0n gu\u00f3 sh\u00ed q\u012b) to the\u00a0Qin<\/em>. It was dominant in the\u00a0Han<\/em> Dynasty (\u6c49\/\u6f22\/h\u00e0n), and remained in use through the\u00a0Wei-Jin<\/em>\u00a0periods (\u9b4f\u664b\u65f6\u671f\/\u9b4f\u664b\u6642\u671f\/w\u00e8i j\u00ecn sh\u00ed q\u012b). Due to its high legibility, it is still used today as an artistic touch in headlines, signboards, and advertisements.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"\"<\/td>\r\n\"\"<\/td>\r\n\"\"<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nFigure 1: Rubbing of large seal script \u5927\u7bc6, small seal script \u5c0f\u7bc6, and clerical script \u96b6\u4e66\/\u96b8\u66f8(in order)<\/i>\r\n

*<\/h3>\r\n

Part II. Calligraphy Writing<\/h1>\r\n

1 Brush Techniques<\/h2>\r\nExperienced calligraphers give\u00a0utmost attention to the proper use of a brush's tip. It's because different parts a brush can create different effects. Here are three techniques to note.\r\n

1.1: \u4e2d\u950b\/\u4e2d\u92d2\/zh\u014dng f\u0113ng<\/h4>\r\nThe most preferred technique is known as writing with \u4e2d\u950b\/\u4e2d\u92d2, a center-tip technique. The proper way to apply this technique is to hold the brush vertically so that the tip of the brush always moves along the middle line of the stroke.\r\n

1.2 \u4fa7\u950b\/\u5074\u92d2\/c\u00e8\u00a0f\u0113ng and \u504f\u950b\/\u504f\u92d2\/pi\u0101n f\u0113ng:<\/h4>\r\n
\r\n
\u4fa7\u950b\/\u5074\u92d2 and \u504f\u950b\/\u504f\u92d2 are two different techniques but both refer to using the side of the brush tip. Using \u504f\u950b\/\u504f\u92d2 means to write using the side of a brush. When the brush is mildly slanted, it is called \u4fa7\u950b\/\u5074\u92d2 technique, or slant-tip writing.<\/div>\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"\"<\/td>\r\n\"Brush<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\nFigure 2:\u00a0\u4e2d\u950b\/\u4e2d\u92d2 and \u4fa7\u950b\/\u5074\u92d2 (Adapted from \u4e2d\u534e\u4e66\u6cd5 Chinese Calligraphy<\/a>)<\/i>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n

1.3 Best Technique Selection<\/h4>\r\n
Although each of the techniques can produce different writing effects, good calligraphers strongly suggest \u4e2d\u950b\/\u4e2d\u92d2 unless \u4fa7\u950b\/\u5074\u92d2 or \u504f\u950b\/\u504f\u92d2 is required.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

2 Strokes That Compose Characters<\/h2>\r\n

2.1 \u6a2a\u6298 h\u00e9ng zh\u00e9 horizontal-vertical turn<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"\"<\/td>\r\n\"\"<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nFigure 3:\u00a0Three types of a horizontal-vertical turn<\/i>\r\n\r\nThere are three types\u00a0of horizontal-vertical turns. Each type needs a downward turn at the end of the horizontal part. The turning point is created by pressing the brush slightly to the down-right side to produce an angular turning effect.\r\n

2.2 \u7ad6\u6298\/\u7aea\u6298\/sh\u00f9 zh\u00e9 vertical-horizontal turn<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"\"<\/td>\r\n\"\"<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nFigure 4: Two types of a vertical-horizontal turn<\/i>\r\n\r\nFor both, it is necessary to make a rightward turn at the end of the vertical part. The turning point is done by pressing the brush slightly to the bottom-right side to produce the angular turning effect.\r\n

3 Composing Characters<\/h2>\r\n

3.1 Stroke Order<\/h4>\r\nArch Chinese<\/a> lists 12 rules of Chinese character writing order. Below is Rule 8:\r\n