Study On Criticism Mode Of Ancient Calligraphy

During the thousands years' of calligraphy history, the ancients not only leave us abundant classical works and precious plates, but also provide us profound thoughts and concepts. Although these thoughts and concepts appear much later than calligraphy history, nowadays the earliest ancient calligraphy documents can be determined in Han Dynasty, or at the most in Qin. Dynasty regardless of forgery. These thoughts and concepts convey thousands of years' history in calligraphy development, which not only guide the trend and direction of calligraphy development, but also grant calligraphy its spiritual connotation; not only promote its cultural quality, but also expand its expressive space greatly. Only because of these thoughts and concepts, calligraphy turns from pure skills into fascinating aesthetic art. In the ancients' eyes, calligraphy is not skill but art of principles, which are the reasons why calligraphy can pass down from generation to generation. Lack of theories, the three thousand years' history of calligraphy will seem pale.The expressive form of these theories and concepts embodies as critical theories and concepts. Because creation, appreciation and criticism are always connected with each other, even in the times of having calligraphy only but without documental record, criticism still exerts its influence, only criticism relies on a certain experience or sense, without developing into a theoretical form. While some specific critical theory appears, calligraphy becomes the highly conscious behavior of scholars and officials, composing the significant part of their spiritual lives. For instance, the prosperity of calligraphy in Han Dynasty and coexisting and developing of various forms stimulate calligraphers to explore earnestly and ponder over thoroughly, then they make judgment of calligraphy: beautiful or ugly, elegant or crude. This is the critical concepts preserving in early calligraphy documents.The formation of any critical theoretical concept has not only been influenced by historical and cultural tradition, but also inflects the social thoughts of certain times; it both extends the calligraphy tradition, and embodies the surpassing and creation of times towards handwriting tradition. It highly expresses the aesthetic value, aesthetic taste, and aesthetic idea of calligraphy. creation in certain times. Of course, our forefathers' critical concepts scatter in their perspective calligraphy documents, which seem fragmentary, not ruled by or belonged to each other and not connected with each other. But only if exploring deeply, can we discover that it's not the fact, the outer looseness cover the inner coherence, that is, each calligrapher's comment is based on his\her perspective understanding of calligraphy, but their point of view does not break away from the traditional Chinese cultural spirit and current cultural trend. The study of critical modes of calligraphy in this thesis is based on the inner coherence.From the study of the critical modes of ancient calligraphy, we can investigate thoroughly the calligraphy history and its developing thread of thought. To connect independent works, to stimulate their inner spirit and vigor, so as to make the value of ancient classical works clear. Through the study of the research modes of calligraphy, we will excavate and understand the inner nature of calligraphy art and its various expressing ways in different times. By sorting out and repeatedly making research of the ancient calligraphy documents, this thesis divides the ancient calligraphy criticism into seven types or seven modes. Each mode demonstrates different characteristic, all display the characteristics of the combination of ancient tradition of Chinese thoughts development and its epoch traits, especially their inner relationship with Chinese traditional Buddhism, Daoism and Zen, and the close connection with current trend of thoughts, such as Metaphysics, Rationalism and psychology, etc. In addition, this thesis has made a thorough analysis of the constitution, content and so on of each critical mode; especially pays attention to the influence of modes on calligraphy and caused changes; objectively analyzes the value and significance of each mode and extends to contemporary calligraphy field.Contemporary calligraphy field meets with an unprecedented predicament, that is, it lacks an efficient discourse system of criticism, the contemporary calligraphy criticism gives people the impression of disorder and inefficiency. Calligraphy has been changed into superficiality, pattern and formalization. At bottom, it's the critical anomie or lack of intelligent and profound criticism that leads to the weakness and inefficiency of criticism. This thesis is to remind the contemporary calligraphy field that the artistic creation without critical guidance will not bring prosperity, but lead to recession.Through the study of ancient calligraphy, we have realized that the spiritual essence of calligraphy thoughts and concepts does not alter according to times and will exist forever, such as the relationship between calligraphy and nature, calligraphy and calligrapher's personality, quality, emotion, soul, etc., which has been testified repeatedly by calligraphers and artists of successive dynasties. In addition, the unique characteristic of calligraphy lies in its away from the influence of political elements, classical works can surpass the times. The thoughts and concepts of calligraphy criticism can embody Chinese classical philosophical spirit, express as a powerful analytical character, but living spirit advocated by calligraphy criticism can not be restricted by the limit of times. So in order to construct calligraphy innovation, contemporary calligraphy field need not subvert the tradition completely, on the contrary, we should draw adequate and equitable lessons from the abundant and profound ancient theories so as to promote the healthy and prosperous development of contemporary calligraphy and to search for its lost cultural spirit.History is a mirror which can offer us revelation for the future. The study of ancient critical modes is trying to search for such a chance.