A Study Of Shen Zengzhi’s Comprehending Thought And Practice On The "Understand Thoroughly"

Shen Zengzhi,an all-powerful Confucian scholar of the first generation,is a figure who cannot be neglected in discussing the integration of calligraphy manuscript and stone inscription.With unique and incisive views on calligraphy,he has been immensely learned in calligraphy tablet inscription and model of calligraphy for practice for a long time.Through repeated close reading of the Hai Ri Lou Preface and Postscript,it can be found that there are two general assembly of the calligraphy learning thoughts: the same origin of the northern and southern schools of calligraphy,combination of calligraphy manuscript and stone inscription;the same potential of different calligraphic fonts,and compatibleness of ancient and modern calligraphic fonts.Previous studies have listed these two views,but they are not detailed.Through a careful reading of the preface and postscript,there are many places that can be deeply written.Preface and postscript is incisive and brief,and new ideas can be generated in every reading.Often a few sentences,after repeated deliberation,can be found a world all its own.Mei Sou’s thought of the same origin of the northern and southern schools of calligraphy is completely contrary to the view of the Calligraphy North and South School Theory which has established the status of stone inscription.In the preface and postscript,Mei Sou compared the style,brushwork,and word potential association,analyzed the north stone inscription,south calligraphy manuscript as well as the north and south school of calligrapher,and finally concluded that the north and south have the same origin,with no division.This is not the disagreement between Ruan Yuan and Mei Sou’s academic views,but Mei Sou’s extensive and intensive research,which digs out the secret of calligraphy insights.It is a historically groundbreaking academic point of view,which provides theoretical support for the practice and exploration of the integration of ancient brushwork,calligraphy manuscript and stone inscription.“Different calligraphic fonts have the same potential,and ancient and modern calligraphic fonts can be compatible”.Namely,different fonts can be compatible,but the overall writing style should be unified.Shen Zengzhi explained the basic situation that ancient and modern calligraphy fonts can be compatible from both ancient and modern aspects,which is of great reference significance for those learning calligraphy.Preface and postscript involving the two general assemblies of the calligraphy learning thoughts are clear and logic.The two can verify each other.The essence that supports these two great calligraphic thoughts is Mei Sou’s profound and incisive cognition of brushwork.He proposed that the brushwork of six generations was to merge official script into cursive script.Wang Xizhi’s and Wang Xianzhi’s brushwork both have calligraphy manuscript and stone inscription brushwork defined by later generations.Eventually,he combined calligraphy manuscript and stone inscription,and formed a style in the fusion of official script and cursive script.