A Study Of Calligraphy Aesthetics Of Cai Xiang

Song Dynasty is an important period during the developing of Chinese calligraphy, and it is often thought to be most revealing of one's personality. Cai Xiang is one of the representative calligraphers in this period, his views and researches of Chinese calligraphy are considered to have significant academic value. However, Cai's achievements did not arouse enough attention to people. Even critics often overlooked Cai, or did not give him a fair and objective evaluation. Later study on Cai's calligraphy is still very weak compared to other ones, and there is not a work to systematically research his calligraphy. Existing domestic researchs about Cai are just the surface reading of his works, whereas, the study about connotative meanins of his calligraphy of are not go far enough. For authors and readers, it is difficult to get the intellectual inspiration. And the absence of criticism leads the Orientation function to failure, too.This paper systematiclly analysed the aesthetics of Cai's calligraphy, and discussed the relevent theory and logic system. This paper is including four chapters, it is respectively the biography, the researching and thinking of Cai's calligraphy, the arts practice, and the historical status and the impact on future generations.The first chapter focused on the life of Cai Xiang and background of the times. Because the national power is weak at Song Dynasty, the calligraphy was affected, too. In this case, the rule had become the key to reform the calligraphy. Cai Xiang was born in this era, and his calligraphy had the keynote which affected by the overall characteristics in that era.The second chapter is the researching and thinking of Cai's calligraphy, which is the most significant chapterof this paper. In this part, the ideological concept of calligraphy, the theory of calligraphy, the appreciation view of calligraphy and the essence of calligraphy of Cai are discussed respectively.The third chapter is Cai Xiang's calligraphy practice, mainly through research his four chirographys to analyse the characteristics of his calligraphy, and use the practice of his calligraphy works to prove his theory of calligraphy.The fourth chapter is the Cai Xiang's historical status and his impact on future generations. Through researching Cai Xiang's theory to clarify his thought of calligraphy, and analysing his influence on the calligraphy aesthetics, it re-evaluated the aesthetic value and historical significance of his calligraphy theory. The research of Cai's calligraphy aesthetics is an extension of his practicing, a re-creation of his art and a revelation of his intrinsic aesthetic, which make people realized that the re-creation from the arts give us the more rich aesthetic information and artistic value.