The Study On Couplet Calligraphy

Couplet calligraphy is a unique form in Chinese cultural history.It integrates literature,art and public display culture,and has multiple academic significance.In literature,it is closely related to Chinese classical poetry and prose.In the history of calligraphy,couplet calligraphy is a form of expression which can be juxtaposed with calligraphy on tortoise shell,zhongding,jianbo and tablet.From the perspective of visual culture,couplet calligraphy is often found in some important public places embodying Confucian,Buddhist and Taoist cultures,such as temples,palaces,government offices,schools and gardens,and it has prospered since the Ming and Qing Dynasty,spreading everywhere in China and even abroad.For a long time,there have been many studies on couplets and calligraphy,but the study on couplet calligraphy has been relatively weak,and the popularity of couplets has not consequently brought about growing interest in the study of couplet calligraphy.This paper studies the couplet calligraphy by combining the perspectives of literature,art and cultural study,analyzingthe origin,cultural orientation,regional expression,artistic expression,and artistic creation of the couplet calligraphy.It pays attention to the combination of history and theory,mutual proof of graphic and text,attaching importance to theoretical basis and academic discussion,and emphasizing the practical significance of applying theory to practice.Generally speaking,couplets are calligraphic works inscribed on stone tablets,wood,bamboo and metal pieces or calligraphy scrolls hanging or posting on pillars or columns in the form of a rhymed verses.However,in practical application,couplets calligraphy and calligraphic couplets sometimes have overlapping meanings and somehow ambiguous references.Couplet calligraphy discussed in this paper not only refers to calligraphy works existing in the above-mentioned forms,but also includes calligraphy works recorded by articles and pictures or other media.Therefore,this paper puts emphasis on the study of couplet calligraphy in the traditional sense,without leaving calligraphic couplets out which are related to the former.There are mutual inheritance and mutual impact between couplet calligraphy and the development of Chinese characters,calligraphy and literature.In correspondence to the origin and development of calligraphy and literature,the origin of couplet calligraphy can also be extended to “Yao” painting.It is stated in this paper that couplet calligraphy originated in the pre-Qin dynasty,formed in the Han and Jin dynasties,matured in the Tang dynasty,perfected in the Five dynasties,popularized in the Song and Yuan dynasties,and flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasty.This paper holds that the poetic couplets written by Emperor Gao-zong and Li-zong of the Southern Song dynastyon round silk fans,the couplets inscribed by Ma Lin on paintings and the silk flags in Fuzhou museum dating back to the Southern Song dynasty can prove that calligraphic couplets already had a relatively mature expression form in the Song dynasty at least.The existing rhymed couplets written by Yishan Yining in the Yuan Dynasty prove that long couplets emerged at least in the Yuan Dynasty.The changes in architectural style during the Ming and Qing Dynasties were related to the popularity of couplet calligraphy.The decoration of Imperial Palaces,Confucian temples and Buddhist temples needs to be combined with the public education function to make Chinese calligraphy suit both the refined and popular tastes,which illustrates contrast as well as harmony.The posters of the couplet calligraphy are widely spread.The couplet calligraphy,written or carved,in modern times,has been instilled with revolutionary message.Since the founding of People's Republic of China,the custom of writing new year couplets,wedding couplets and elegiac couplets has been retained among average people.The practical couplets of the office buildings,family residences,pavilions and the Buddhist and Taoist temples have shown the distinguished characteristics of a certain period.Literature is the foundation and inner form of couplet calligraphy and one of the bases of couplet calligraphy.Therefore,the study of couplet calligraphy should first observe its relationship with literature,which involves the related knowledge of couplets and its cultural origin.Abundant research materials on couplets have provided the present paper with rich research sources.Based on the relationship between sound rhythm in Shenglu Fameng and couplet calligraphy,this paper briefly analyzes the various versions of Shenglu Fameng and their basic value for couplet calligraphy.Couplet calligraphy is a unique form of expression with epistemological values in various aspects.Symmetry in its form determines its definitive property on the expression of content and techniques.Its visual cultural need for public display determines its unique quality which combines artistic appreciation and education as well as dissemination of traditional culture;it integrates regular script,cursive script,official script,seal-cutting characters,takes on different personal styles such as those of Yan Zhenqing,Liu Gongquan,Ouyang Xun and Zhao Mengfu,presents the unity of opposites,and achieves the perfect combination of practicality and artistry.Through the long-term development,the unique expressions of couplets have been perfectly integrated into Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism that represent the traditional Chinese culture and become a way of cultural expression.Confucian couplets and calligraphy are the embodiment of Confucian culture,for example,couplet calligraphy in Confucius temples,in imperial palaces,in the gardens of aristocratic families,all have the function of spreading religious teachings,expressing political views and advocating for virtues,they jointly create the Confucian political and religious culture and art atmosphere.They have the function of communication and education in cultural expression and dissemination,and are dynamic,sequential and systematic in communication.The Buddhist couplets engraved or hanged in temples aim to increase people's understanding of Buddhist culture.Judging from the content,these couplets either preach Buddhist doctrine,praise the merits of the Dharma,or reveal the inspiration of Buddha.According to the doctrine,the Taoist does not need to hang couplets,but under the influence of Confucianism,couplet calligraphy developed,promoting Taoist thoughts to persuade people to do good deeds,be free and open-minded,change the customs,and finally achieve the purpose of educating people.The contents of Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism in couplets are also common.The needs of the people are the fundamental value of the existence of couplet calligraphy.The starting point and goal of the contemporary couplet calligraphy creation should adhere to the principle "keeping pace with the times,keeping people at the center",and dedicate the best spiritual food to the times and the people.The public displaying space of Imperial Palaces,Confucian temples and Buddhist temples provides a material basis for the normalization of calligraphy.The couplets in Forbidden City is the representative of court couplets.Due to the difference between the identity of the rulers and the need for the solemn atmosphere of temples,the couplets in the court mainly follow the style of the regular script of the Tang Dynasty.In the reign of emperor Kangxi and Qianlong,Kangxi's high praise of Dong Qichang and Qianlong's reverence for Zhao Mengfu made the two masters' styles in couplet calligraphy models of court calligraphy.Couplets in Confucius temples are the representative of memorial temple couplets,and the couplets in the West Lake area and Suzhou City are the representative of the historical inheritance and contemporary evolution of couplets calligraphy.The business couplets use commercial centers or the hometown of successful businessmen as displaying space.The different commercial orientations are closely related to the content and calligraphy style of couplets.The merchants of Shanxi province are good at accumulating wealth by doing business,and their couplets not only embody rich practical concepts,such as the virtues of self-cultivation and inheritance,but also convey the commercial codes which advocate such virtues as honesty and credibility.Huizhou merchants use business to cultivate culture,and use culture to promote business.They sponsored the “Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou” and the Qianjia School.They practiced the ideal of “business supporting culture”,integrating culture with business,promoting business with culture.Suzhou gardens cultivate people with culture,with gardens decorated with poems and essays,reflecting the literati's pursuit of leisure and fun,sense and sensibility,meditation and insight.The couplet calligraphy of the previous dynasties,which are preserved in government offices,temples,commercial and residential buildings and gardens,etc.,all are characterized by the integration of literature and calligraphy,with the function of passing on cultural inheritance and educating the public with traditional values.Different times,different regions,different scholars and different writing styles will form different calligraphy styles.The locality of ancient calligraphy was closely related to the dissemination and selection of information.Since the Qing dynasty,the regional couplet calligraphy presents different calligraphy styles.The couplet calligraphy in Hunan province advocate the upright and grand style of the regular script in the Tang Dynasty,the couplets in Henan follow the powerful style of the central plains,the couplets in Shanghai follow the gentle and refined style of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi,and Yun Nan,Zhe Jiang and Chong Qing of China shows preference for long couplets,which shows the long-lasting vitality of couplet calligraphy.The different styles of couplet calligraphy are not only related to calligrapher's personal preference,but also to the exhibition of couplet calligraphy.There are different aesthetic orientations of different calligraphy styles.The couplets in solemn palaces and courts are characterized by the upright and grand style,the couplets written in seal-cutting characters and official script(Li Shu)are complementary for their value of traditions and learning from the past,the emotional expression of couplets written in cursive script and running hand co-exists with the free and casual style.The works created by each calligrapher not only reflect the common feature of each calligrapher,but also show the individual style and temperament of calligraphers.The comparative study of the style of couplet calligraphy can clearly show the group consciousness and the individual pursuit of calligraphers in their artistic expression.The technique used in couplet calligraphy is related to the form of the couplets.Couplets are often written in regular script,with even and straight strokes rather than slanting and crooked strokes,with broken-off strokes rather than joined-up ones,with thick strokes rather than thin ones.In the structure of the characters,the regular and upright forms are preferred rather than the slanting ones,the regular script used in couplets are often constructed evenly with two components on the left and right.In the art of composition,the symmetry between the top and the bottom is emphasized,so as to achieve the rhythmic coherence within the same line.In the use of ink,engraved couplets are usually inscribed according to the use of ink in written scrolls of couplets,but with more strokes like strokes with little ink in calligraphy in couplet scrolls,while in couplet scrolls,there is variety in the use of of ink,and the ink used may be thick,thin,dry or overflowing.The material used in couplet calligraphy is related to the style of calligraphy.The common materials are wood,bamboo and stone,and there are also special materials for copper casting,porcelain burning and inlaying.People who write couplets are usually recognized calligraphers,while most engraved couplets are carved by folk craftsmen with carving as profession.However,there are also some excellent works by official carvers,calligraphers and the literati.Comparing the engraved couplets and the original works of calligraphers,one can find certain degree of similarity in style,but inevitably there are differences which affect the attitude of the calligraphy learners in later generations.In any case,engraved couplets have certain value for the dissemination and inheritance of calligraphy.In the artistic creation of couplet calligraphy,there exists the problem in the relationship between the composing and the inscribing of couplets.In the Song Dynasty,there were not many scholars and officials who composed and wrote couplets.In the Ming and Qing Dynasties,the composers of couplets were usually writers of the same couplets.Of course,among the couplets passed down in history as calligraphy works,it is easy to find couplets composed and written by different people.Some couplets are made up of collected characters from various calligraphy works with different styles.This kind of couplets can be directly engraved,and they can also be used for reference in the creation of couplet calligraphy.For more than 100 years,it was a common practice to collect characters from inscriptions on tortoise shells(Jia Gu)and bronze objects(Jin Wen)for couplets.In the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China,couplet calligraphy creation based on characters collected from inscriptions on tortoise shells was represented by the calligraphic practice of the four masters in this field(Jia Gu Si Tang)."Xue Tang" Luo Zhenyu started the school,and "Yan Tang" Dong Zuobin gave it impetus,followed by a growing number of learners.The writing styles of couplet calligraphy based on inscriptions on bronze objects are different,but they have all achieved something.Couplets based on official scripts(Li Shu)collect characters mainly from tablets dated back to the Han Dynasty(Han Bei),and couplets based on the regular script collect characters mainly from tablets of the Wei and Tang Dynasties(Wei Bei,Tang Bei).Couplets based on Han Bei and Wei Bei are abundant,and the influence of couplet calligraphy based on Han Bei on the later generations is enormous.Couplets in the Qing dynasty are mainly based on characters collected from Lanting Xu.Comparatively speaking,couplets based on characters collected from works of cursive script are somehow rare.The creation of couplets based on set characters is an important means for calligraphy learners to learn the essence of calligraphy in ancient times.Whether it is the creation of couplet calligraphy based on seal-cutting characters on tortoise shells,on bronze objects,or couplets based on characters of the official script,the regular script,the cursive script and the running-hand script,it is unwise of the present calligraphy learners to simply imitate the ancient people without being innovative.Writing couplets by collecting characters from classics in calligraphy is an important means in couplet calligraphy creation.