Caligraphy I

Chinese 211.01 Spring 2002

Ming Yang 236-6615 Box F-7 E-mail:Yang@Grinnell.edu

This one-credit course is an introduction to Chinese calligraphy.  It will teach students the basic techniques of writing Chinese characters in the "standard script" (kái-shu).  First, students will be introduced to materials in calligraphy, and the proper ways to manipulate the brush.  They will then learn the concept of "tracing the vermilion" (miao-hung), and ways to avoid the common errors in technique (ba-bing).  Finally, students will be required to familiarize themselves, through practice, with the proper sequence of strokes of characters presented in this course, An exhibition of   students' work has been planned for early May.

Students grade will be determined on the basis of success with quality of practiced assignment, final project, participation and attendance. Students are expected to participate in class descussions and critiques. Class attendance is mandatory. Grade may be lowered one grade for 3 unexcused absences. Students are also required to submit weekly exercises (beginning the second week) as well as a final project for exhibition.

Sessions
Week I	Materials in Calligraphy:  Brush, Ink, Ink-stone, and Paper. The Evolution of the Characters
Week II	Manipulation of the Brush:  Five Basic Techniques
Week III	Videotape on Chinese Calligraphy
Week IV	Basic Strokes in Calligraphy:  The Character yong
Week V	"Tracing the Vermilion" (miao-hung )
Week VI	Basic Strokes in Calligraphy:  The Character yong
Week VII	Common Errors in Technique (ba-bing)
Week     VIII	OU-yang Hsuan's Eight Basic Strokes in Analysis.  Twelve                                    Major Characters in Tracing and Ou-Yang Hsuen's Analysis
	SEMESTER   RECESS
Week IX	"Standard Script" k'ai-shu  in the Yuan Style
Week X	Structuring the Characters.
Week XI	Further on Structuring
Week XII	Tang poems in  k'ai-shu
Week XIII	Further on Tang Poems in k'ai-shu
Week XIV	Final project due

*  Anyone with a disability that may require some modification of the seating, or class requirements, please contact me after class, so we can discuss appropriate arrangements.

Recommended Readings:

There is no required reading for this course.  The following materials (available at Burling) have been prepared for those who interested in the history and aesthetics of Chinese calligraphy.

Catalogue of the Exhibition of Chinese Calligraphy and Painting in the Collection of John M. Crawford, Jr.  New York,1962.

Ch'en Chih-mai.  Chinese Calligraphers and Their Art.  London and New York, 1966.

Chiang Yee.  Chinese Calligraphy.  Cambridge, MA, 1973.

Fu Shen.  Traces of the Brush:  Studies in Chinese Calligraphy.  New Haven,1977.

Fu Shen, Glenn Lowry, and Ann Yonemura.  From Content to Context:  Approaches to Asian and Islamic Calligraphy.  Washington, DC, 1986.

Shu Pu Hong Kong.