About The Formation Of Running Script In Chinese Calligraphy And The Evolution Of Its Style

This thesis summarizes the important links and key issues in the evolution of running script, depicts the evolution history of the style of running script, expounds the reasons behind the important phenomena and its relations with the other styles of calligraphy and lays the special emphasis on the summarization of the laws and experience drawn from the history of running script on a macro-level.This thesis mainly consists of the following parts:Introduction: The status of running script is expounded and this thesis's general train of thinking is summarized.Part 1. The relations between running script and the other styles of calligraphy: This part analyzes the relations among the naming of running script, its creation and its characteristics, expounds the connections between running script and official script in respect to concepts and specifications, analyzes the links between running script and such concepts as FeiBai(flying white), SanLi(scattered official script), CaoLi(cursive official script), XingLi (running official script),GaoShu (draft script) and PoTi(nonstandard script) in ancient literal materials. The exploration in this part is the prerequisite for accurate use the relevant literal materials for research.Part 2. Basic maturity of running script: This part describes the situation of running script in the period of initial formation and basic maturity. First, this part analyzes the opinions of traditional theories on running script, with sufficient attentions paid to the correct opinions that are not the mainstream but in conformity with the facts; then, this part analyzes the origin of running script on the basis of historical remains, summarizes the mature characteristics of running script and concludes that the special characteristics of running script originated in the adaptation to the requirements of records and social intercourses in daily life.Part 3. The formation of the typical style of running script: This part analyzes the establishment of the typical style of running script in Wei Dynasty, Jin Dynasty and the Southern Dynasties. It first makes an introduction to the situations of running script in Wei Dynasty, Jin Dynast and the Southern Dynasties and then emphatically compares the styles of running script between Zhong-You and Wang-Xizhi as well as Wang-Xizhi and Wang-Xianzhi to revealtheir value as the models.Part 4. Evolution of the style of running script after Tang Dynasty: This part describes the evolution of the style of running script after Tang Dynasty by such different periods as Tang Dynasty, the Five Dynasties, Southern and Northern Song Dynasties, Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. Besides clear divisions of periods, rich materials and analysis of the influences of the key calligraphers and the important works, this part also reveals the effects of social and cultural background. This part expounds the influences of the basic characteristics and internal inherited factors of running script on its development, the influences of all ages on the theoretical requirements on the development of running script, the relations between running script and the other styles of calligraphy, the restriction of application traditions to running script and its style, the influences of writing method and writing tools on the characteristics of running script and etc.Part 5. Conclusion: This part briefly summarizes the whole thesis. Running script is a kind of "casual" script generated on the basis of official script. In the process of its maturity and perfection, it was also influenced by regular script, grass script and other styles of calligraphy. The style of the running script of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi are very typical and hence have been followed, surpassed and broken through by the descendants. Various ages and social backgrounds have been the key factors for the evolution of the style of running script. All the major factors that have influenced the development of running script after the age of the two Wangs were available in the age of Wang Xizhi.