Knotting words has been passed down from generation to generation, and it is not easy to use the pen through the ages

——Zhao Mengzhaoye’s famous sayings on calligraphy

“Calligraphy is based on the use of the pen, and the knotting of words is the most important thing. It also requires workmanship. The writing of Gaijie is passed down from generation to generation, and it is difficult to use the pen through the ages." This is a passage written by Zhao Mengzhaoye, a great calligrapher of the Yuan Dynasty, in "Dingwu Lanting Postscript". More than 700 years have passed, and Zhao's discussion on the use of pens and knots in calligraphy has become a quote that people often quote on calligraphy.

Why can these two short sentences become a famous saying that people often quote? Even today, more than 700 years later, it is still a topic of endless discussion among calligraphers? This is because this inscription clearly points out the importance of using the pen and forming characters in calligraphy creation, and especially emphasizes and affirms the decisive role of the use of the pen in calligraphy creation.

There has been a heated debate in contemporary calligraphy circles regarding the issue of "using a pen is not easy through the ages". Calligraphers who agree with this view believe that this is Zhao Mengzhaoye's incisive judgment on the issue of pen use. Opponents believe that calligraphy pens should be ever-changing, so how can they be "unchangeable through the ages"? !

In fact, the latter view above confuses the issues of "writing" and "writing technique". The technique of writing is variable and changeable, but the correct method of using brushwork is certain and unchanging. What are the correct rules for using pens in calligraphy? The author once pointed out in the article "A Preliminary Discussion on the Qi Transformation Mechanism of Calligraphy Creation" that the rules of using Qi in calligraphy are the fundamental method of calligraphy and a time-honored rule of thumb. Because calligraphy pays attention to the expression of power, "vivid charm", "wind spirit" and "bone strength", and whether it is "wind spirit" or "spirit", whether it is "spirit" or "implication", it all needs to be passed through " Only by using Qi with the pen can it be realized. The so-called "Qi uses the brush" means to use Qi to control the brush and use intention to control the brush. In the process of using the brush, a person's spirit, temperament, temperament, and education are all reflected in the brush, and the quality of the lines is transformed into the quality of humanity through the use of the brush. This is the secret of calligraphy’s ability to express the humanistic spirit. The ancients said: "The pen is the most important thing in writing, and the use of it depends on the person", and also said: "Those who are good at calligraphy use the pen, and those who are not good at calligraphy use the pen." Therefore, "using pen" is the key for calligraphers to use pen and ink to express their soul. Zhao Mengzhaoye realized this and translated his ideas into characters, and concluded that "calligraphy is based on the use of pens". Later generations of calligraphers had the same understanding in their creation and appreciation, and had a deep resonance with this passage of Zhao Meng Zhaoye. With the understanding of this, this sentence of Zhao Meng Zhaoye became an eternal famous saying. Not surprising.

It is worth mentioning that this passage by Zhao Mengzhaoye seems to emphasize the importance of using pen, but in fact, he is also emphasizing the importance of "knotting". "Calligraphy is based on the use of pens, and tying characters also requires work." Calligraphy is a visual art. Although tying characters is affected and restricted by the force of the brush to a certain extent, it is also restricted by the laws of formal beauty to a greater extent. . It is said that Wang Xizhi wrote "The Theory of Brushstrokes": "If a little bit of the position is lost, it is like a disease of a beautiful woman, and a painting is out of joint, like a strong man breaking off an arm." Therefore, "knot" is also a top priority in calligraphy creation. Heavy. What is interesting is that Zhao Mengzhaoye emphasized "writing" and "writing" together, and said: "The writing is passed down from time to time, and it is not easy to use the writing through the ages." In contrast, in the contemporary calligraphy world, emphasis is placed on "exhibition hall effect" and "personality expression" "In the contemporary era, there are exaggerated deformations of the word knot, and the "popular provincial style" that emphasizes clutch and clutch changes is really evidence that "the word knot is passed down from generation to generation." Zhao Mengzhao has no special essays handed down to the public. However, some of his essays and postscripts are full of wonderful explanations and profound meanings. For example, also in "Dingwu Lanting Postscript", Zhao pointed out: "It is beneficial to study calligraphy by pondering the ancient calligraphy and knowing the meaning of the writing. Youjun's "Lanting" has been withdrawn because of its momentum. However, it is nothing less than ambition, which is why it is so good." He also said: "In the past, people could learn a few lines of ancient carvings and study them with concentration, and then they could become famous. Moreover, "Lanting" was a favorite book of Youjun, and he did not learn it himself. , why worry about others!" Zhao Mengzhaoye strongly studied the ancients in calligraphy theory and valued "being a disciple of the ancients". This is the main reason why later calligraphers regarded Zhao as a retro sect.