GIVE NOW about ocw help & faqs contact us
21G.111 | Spring 2024 | Undergraduate

# Chinese Calligraphy

Each week is structured with three pedagogical components:

- Facts 知识与理解 / 知識與理解 — Understanding and Discussion: History, theory, culture, and content
- Acts 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗 — Experience and Practice: Stroke drills, character composition, layout
- Calligraphy Concept 书法观念 / 書法觀念 — Weekly aesthetic or philosophical principle

### Week 1: Introduction to Calligraphy and Tools | 第一周：书法概述与文房四宝 / 第一週：書法概述與文房四寶

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

Introduce Chinese calligraphy as a traditional art and personal cultivation. Discuss the Four Treasures (brush, ink, paper, inkstone) and the learning stages: tracing, copying, and free writing.

介绍书法作为传统艺术和修身方式，学习文房四宝的特性与临摹、摹写、创作的学习阶段 / 介紹書法作為傳統藝術與修身方式，學習文房四寶的特性與臨摹、摩寫、創作的學習階段。

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Practice brush-holding methods, correct sitting and arm posture, ink preparation, and mindfulness.

练习执笔方法、坐姿、手臂姿势，磨墨并静心 / 練習執筆方法、坐姿、手臂姿勢，磨墨並靜心。

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

Good tools support good practice (工欲善其事，必先利其器); The brush reflects the mind—when the mind is aligned, the brush is correct.

用笔在心，心正则笔正 / 用筆在心，心正則筆正。

### Week 2: Character Formation and Basic Strokes | 第二周：汉字结构与基本笔画 / 第二週：漢字結構與基本筆畫

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

Explain the Six Principles of character formation and introduce the Eight Principles of “Yong” (永字八法).

讲解汉字的六书造字法则，介绍永字八法的基础笔法 / 講解漢字的六書造字法則，介紹永字八法的基礎筆法。

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Practice horizontal (横, heng) and vertical (竖, shu) strokes through characters like 一、二、工、王.
练习横、竖笔画 / 練習橫、豎筆畫。

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

Lady Wei’s “Diagram of the Battle Formation of the Brush”—the beauty of calligraphy reflecting nature.

卫夫人《笔阵图》— 书法与自然之美 / 衛夫人《筆陣圖》— 書法與自然之美。

### Week 3: Oracle Bone to Seal Script | 第三周：甲骨文至篆书的演变 / 第三週：甲骨文至篆書的演變

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

Trace the historical evolution from Oracle Bone inscriptions through Bronze inscriptions to Large and Small Seal scripts.

讲述甲骨文、金文到大篆、小篆的演变历史 / 講述甲骨文、金文到大篆、小篆的演變歷史。

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Practice dot strokes (点画 / 點畫) in characters like 主、玉.

练习点、左右点笔画 / 練習點、左右點筆畫。

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

Revealed and hidden brush-tip techniques create distinct aesthetic effects (藏锋与露锋 / 藏鋒與露鋒), balancing sharpness and subtlety.

锋芒毕露 vs. 不露锋芒 / 鋒芒畢露 vs. 不露鋒芒。

### Week 4: Clerical and Regular Script | 第四周：隶书变革与楷书规范 / 第四週：隸書變革與楷書規範

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

Study the clerical transformation marking script evolution, and the formation of regular script standards.

学习隶变的重要性与楷书法则的确立 / 學習隸變的重要性與楷書法則的確立。

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Practice slant strokes (撇捺) with characters 人、大、天, emphasizing center-tip brushwork (中锋运笔 / 中鋒運筆).

练习撇捺笔画并掌握中锋用笔 / 練習撇捺筆畫並掌握中鋒用筆。

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

Center-tip brushwork conveys strength; side-tip brushwork reveals grace.

中锋取力量，侧锋取妍 / 中鋒取力量，側鋒取妍。

### Week 5: Running and Cursive Scripts | 第五周：流畅的行书与草书 / 第五週：流暢的行書與草書

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

Discuss the aesthetic principles of semi-cursive (xíngshū) and cursive (cǎoshū) scripts, emphasizing fluidity and individual style.
讨论行书和草书的审美原则，强调流畅性与个人风格 / 討論行書和草書的審美原則，強調流暢性與個人風格。

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Practice strokes such as curve (弯 / 彎), hook (钩 / 鈎), bent (折) in 心、吉、永.

练习弯、钩、折等笔画 / 練習彎、鈎、折等筆畫。

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

Though the brush pauses, the spirit flows continuously (笔断意连); intention precedes brushwork (意在笔先 / 意在笔先).

### Week 6: Calligraphic Details and Dynamic Balance| 第六周：书法细节与对立平衡 / 第六週：書法細節與對立平衡

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

Key visual contrasts that contribute to the internal balance and expressive rhythm of Chinese calligraphy.

书法中的关键对立元素，这些细节共同构建出书法的内在张力与表现力 / 書法中的關鍵對立元素，這些細節共同構建出書法的內在張力與表現力。

大小 (size)、粗细 / 粗細 (thickness)、方圆 / 方圓 (squareness vs. roundness)、疏密 (density vs. openness)、曲直 (curved vs. straight)、相背 (directional opposition)

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Analyze a character from a classical work, noting contrasts. Create a 2-character piece emphasizing one or more pairs of opposites.

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

Harmony is found in contrast; structure emerges through variation.

对立中求和谐，变化中见章法 / 對立中求和諧，變化中見章法。

### Week 7: Ink Tonality and Spirit| 第七周：墨色层次与神采 / 第七週：墨色層次與神采

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

This week focuses on the expressive possibilities of ink variation in Chinese calligraphy. Key elements include: 浓与淡 / 濃與淡 (rich vs. light), 干与湿 / 乾與濕 (dry vs. wet), 黑与白 / 黑與白 (ink vs. space), and special effects such as 飞白 / 飛白 (flying white), 枯笔 / 枯筆 (dry brush), and 涨墨 / 漲墨 (ink bleeding).

Students will explore how tonal control can convey mood, movement, and texture in writing.

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

1. Ink Control Practice
   Practice writing the same character using different ink concentrations and brush conditions (e.g., fully inked, semi-dry, flying white).
2. Ink Texture Practice
   Explore 飞白 / 飛白 (flying white), 枯笔 / 枯筆 (dry brush), and 涨墨 / 漲墨 (bleeding ink) by varying brush moisture, writing speed, and paper absorbency.

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

Beauty in blankness and structured emptiness.

留白之美，计白当黑 / 留白之美，計白當黑。

### Week 8: Calligraphy Masters and Classics | 第八周：书法大师与经典作品 / 第八週：書法大師與經典作品

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

This week, students will study and present group research on three masterpieces of running script (行书):

Preface to the Orchid Pavilion (《兰亭序 / 蘭亭序》) by Wang Xizhi

Draft of a Requiem to My Nephew (《祭侄文稿》) by Yan Zhenqing

Cold Food Observance (《寒食帖》) by Su Dongpo

Through these works, students will explore the historical context, emotional expression, and artistic style of each calligrapher.

本周学生将以小组形式汇报三大行书名作的研究成果，分别为王羲之《兰亭序》、颜真卿《祭侄文稿》、苏轼《寒食帖》；通过研读与分享，理解作品背后的历史背景、情感表达与书法风格 / 本週學生將以小組形式匯報三大行書名作的研究成果，分别為王羲之《蘭亭序》、颜真卿《祭侄文稿》、蘇軾《寒食帖》；通過研讀與分享，理解作品背後的歷史背景、情感表達與書法風格。

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Closely observe and imitate one character from any of the three works studied. Focus on structure, brush rhythm, and expressive variation.

选取《兰亭序 》、《祭侄文稿》，或《寒食帖》中的一个字，仔细观察并临摹其结构、用笔 / 選取《蘭亭序 》、《祭侄文稿》，或《寒食帖》中的一個字，仔細觀察並臨摹其結構、用筆。

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

Calligraphy matures as the calligrapher matures; calligraphy is self-cultivation.

人书俱老，书如其人 / 人書俱老，書如其人。

### Week 9: Stele vs. Model School | 第九周：碑学与帖学 / 第九週：碑學與帖學

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

Compare Stele School (Bēixué 碑学 / 碑學), emphasizing structure and monumentality, with Model School (Tiēxué帖学), highlighting elegance and fluidity.

对比碑学的结构与厚重感，和帖学的流畅与精致细腻 / 對比碑學的結構與厚重感，和帖學的流暢與精致細膩。

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Copy the same character from both stele inscriptions and model calligraphy and observe how different styles convey aesthetic variation. Then reflect on which stylistic qualities resonate with your own preference.

从碑帖中选取同一个字进行临摹，体会不同风格所呈现的美感差异 / 從碑帖中選取同一個字進行臨摹，體會不同風格所呈現的美感差異。

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

Dynamic breath and rhythm.

气韵生动 / 氣韵生動。

### Week 10: Layout and Seals | 第十周：作品布局与印章 / 第十週：作品佈局與印章

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

Introduce layout elements, including main text, dates, signatures, and various seal types and functions.

介绍作品布局要素（正文、落款、日期）及印章的种类和作用 / 介紹作品佈局要素（正文、落款、日期）及印章的種類和作用。

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Create a small scroll incorporating the main text, date, signature, and seal impressions.

设计完整的小幅卷轴作品 / 設計完整的小幅卷軸作品。

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

The first stroke shapes the character; one character anchors the entire work.

一点成一字之规，一字乃终篇之准 / 一點成一字之規，一字乃終篇之準。

### Week 11: Contemporary Calligraphy | 第十一周：当代书法艺术探索 / 第十一週：當代書法藝術探索

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

Explore contemporary practices in calligraphy, including conceptual works by artists such as Xu Bing and Wang Dongling.

探索徐冰、王冬龄等当代艺术家的书法实践与观念创作 / 探索徐冰、王冬齡等當代藝術家的書法實踐与觀念創作。

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Experiment with Xu Bing’s Square Word Calligraphy, transforming English words into calligraphic forms resembling Chinese characters.

尝试徐冰的方块字书法，将英文单词转化为汉字式书写 / 嘗試徐冰的方塊字書法，將英文單詞轉化為漢字式書寫。

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

Can calligraphy transcend Chinese characters?

书法艺术能否脱离汉字 / 書法藝術能否脫離漢字？

### Week 12: Calligraphy, Dance, and Music | 第十二周：书法的音乐性与身体表达 / 第十二週：書法的音樂性與身體表達

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

Calligraphy is often described as musical—strokes have rhythm, tempo, pauses, and flow. This week, we explore how calligraphy relates to the performing arts, especially dance and music. We’ll examine examples like Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s “Wild Cursive” to understand how the body can express calligraphic movement.

书法常被称为“无声的音乐”，因其笔画表现的节奏、速度、停连。本周将探讨书法与表演艺术的关联，尤其是舞蹈与音乐的互动，并通过台湾云门舞集《狂草》等作品，理解身体如何演绎书法之韵 / 書法常被稱爲“無聲的音樂”，因其筆畫表現的節奏、速度、停連。本週將探討書法與表演藝術的關聯，尤其是舞蹈與音樂的互動，並通過臺灣雲門舞集《狂草》等作品，理解身體如何演繹書法之韵。

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Choose a character and write it multiple times while paying close attention to rhythm, tension, and release. Then, physically interpret that rhythm through gesture or motion, as if “dancing the character.”

选取一个字，反复书写，体会行笔中的节奏、张力与缓急；随后用肢体动作表现这个字的节奏感，尝试“舞出”书法之意 / 選取一個字，反覆書寫，體會行筆中的節奏、張力與緩急；隨後用肢體動作表現這個字的節奏感，嘗試“舞出”書法之意。

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

Calligraphy is silent music, unspoken poetry, and invisible painting.

书法是无声的音乐，无言的诗，无形的画 / 書法是無聲的音樂，無言的詩，無形的畫。

### Week 13: Final Project Development | 第十三周：期末作品构思与创作准备 / 第十三週：期末作品構思與創作準備

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

In preparation for the final presentation, students will share their chosen text (poem, phrase, motto, or self-written lines), explain the reasons for their selection, and discuss the script style they will use. This week emphasizes integrating technical skills with personal meaning.

为期末展示做准备，学生需分享所选内容（诗句、格言、自拟文句等），阐述选题原因，并说明将采用的书体风格 / 為期末展示做準備，學生需分享所選内容（詩句、格言、自擬文句等），闡述選題原因，並說明將採用的書體風格。

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Begin drafting the final piece: sketch the overall layout, test character proportions and spacing, and decide on seal placement.

开始进行期末作品初稿创作，包括布局草图、字形比例与间距、印章位置安排 / 開始進行期末作品初稿創作，包括佈局草圖、字形比例與間距、印章位置安排。

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

A successful calligraphy piece balances structure, emotion, and intent.

一件成功的书法作品，应在结构、情感与立意之间取得平衡 / 一件成功的書法作品，應在結構、情感與立意之間取得平衡。

### Week 14: Final Presentation and Reflection | 第十四周：成果展示与总结反思 / 第十四週：成果展示與總結反思

#### Facts | 知识与理解 / 知識與理解

In this final week, students will reflect on what they have learned throughout the course—from technical skill development to conceptual understanding and aesthetic appreciation. We will also revisit key concepts discussed over the semester to deepen insights into calligraphy as both an artistic and intellectual pursuit.

本周将回顾整个课程的学习内容，包括笔法技巧的提升、书法观念的理解及美学鉴赏能力的培养。师生将重温课程中的重要观念，以加深对书法作为一种艺术与思想追求的理解 / 本週將回顧整個課程的學習内容，包括筆法技巧的提升、書法觀念的理解及美學鑑賞能力的培養。師生將重温課程中的重要觀念，以加深對書法作爲一種藝術與思想追求的理解。

#### Acts | 练习与体验 / 練習與體驗

Each student will formally present their final calligraphy project in class. Presentations include a short oral or written explanation of their process, choice of content, script style, layout, and personal reflections. Peer and instructor feedback will be provided to encourage constructive dialogue.

每位同学将展示自己的期末书法作品，并进行简要介绍（口头或书面均可），说明其创作过程、选题缘由、所用书体、布局构思及个人感悟。作品展示后，老师与同学们将给予具体反馈，进行交流和反思 / 每位同學將展示自己的期末書法作品，並進行簡要介紹（口頭或書面均可），説明其創作過程、選題緣由、所用書體、佈局構思及個人感悟。作品展示後，老師與同學們將給予具體反饋，進行交流和反思。

#### Calligraphy Concept | 书法观念 / 書法觀念

Calligraphy as a lifelong practice—an integration of technique, thought, and spirit.

书法是一生的修炼，融合技艺、思想与心境 / 書法是一生的修煉，融合技藝、思想與心境。

## Course Info

##### Instructor

- Kang Zhou

##### Departments

- Global Studies and Languages

##### As Taught In

Spring 2024

##### Level

Undergraduate

##### Topics

- Humanities
  - Language
    - Chinese

##### Learning Resource Types

assignment_turned_in Activity Assignments with Examples
theaters Videos
co_present Instructor Insights

Browse Resources

# You are leaving MIT OpenCourseWare

Please be advised that external sites may have terms and conditions, including license rights, that differ from ours. MIT OCW is not responsible for any content on third party sites, nor does a link suggest an endorsement of those sites and/or their content.