Huang Tingjian’s Calligraphy

Huang Tingjian’s Calligraphy
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Huang Tingjian’s Calligraphy
Introduction
Pre-modern China presents the practice of calligraphy in a way that even Western countries cannot match. Calligraphy in China was highly valued and played a major role in its development. Calligraphy was sustained through a rich and complex body of thought that can rival the art theory of the West. In China, the Song Dynasty was instrumental in the development of calligraphy to become something respectable and admirable. The cursive calligraphers in the Song Dynasty worshipped and inherited cursive script from the previous dynasties. In addition, they came up with new styles and ideas, which helped advance calligraphy in China. The era was instrumental in encouraging artists to emerge themselves in any form that promoted artistic expression. One of the notable calligraphers in the Song Dynasty was Huang Tingjian. He was not only a calligrapher but also a poet. This essay will explore Tingjian’s cursive writing and other works under him. It will demonstrate the exceptional skill that Tingjian possessed and how he applied it in calligraphy and other works.
About Huang Tingjian
Huang Tingjian (1045–1105) was a prominent Chinese calligrapher and poet who lived during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Among many contributions that Tingjian made to the Song Dynasty, he is known for his exceptional skill in the art of cursive script, known as Cao Shu. Tingjian was born in the town of Jinling, in what is now the province of Jiangsu. He came from a family of scholars and officials and was well-educated from a young age. He began studying calligraphy at an early age, and quickly became renowned for his skill in Cao Shu. He is said to have had a natural talent for the art, and his brushstrokes were known for their fluidity and grace. Moreover, Tingjian was a talented poet. In his lifetime, Tingjian wrote many poems and is considered one of the leading literary figures of his time. His love for nature is vivid in his poems. Despite Tingjian’s accomplishments, he was not without hardships. He was involved in political struggles during the latter part of the Song Dynasty and was imprisoned on several occasions (Campbell & Yuan, 1999). However, he continued to produce great works of art and literature throughout his life, and his legacy as one of China's greatest calligraphers and poets lives on to this day.
Tingjian in the Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty played a critical role in Tingjian’s contribution to calligraphy. In 960 AD, Zhao Kuangyin seized power from Empowered Gong of Zhou. Kuangyin united the nation and established the Song Dynasty which he designated the capital in Bianliang (currently Kaifeng). In the 300 years that the Song Dynasty existed, the development of politics and economy played a major role in the prosperity of culture and art. In particular, the Song Dynasty made numerous changes to the examination system and civil service, which led to the development of calligraphy. For instance, Calligraphy became an important subject in the school system. Moreover, officials had to study calligraphy as a critical subject to be appointed. Individuals seeking appointments in the Song Dynasty had to meet four requirements.
Firstly, they were required to have a body figure; tall and strong. Secondly, they were supposed to speak in a dialectical manner. Thirdly, they were mandated to be knowledgeable in calligraphy, where they could write a beautiful regular script. The last requirement was the ability to write logical and coherent essays. This demonstrates that the Song Dynasty valued and respected calligraphy. A majority of scholars and officials practiced and studied calligraphy as a move to improve their character and morals virtual. Tingjian is considered one of the Four Masters of the Song Dynasty, along with Su Shi, Mi Fu, and Cai Xiang. His exceptional skill in calligraphy was one of the major contributors to his appointment as an official in the Song Dynasty.
Chan-Buddhism in Tingjian’s Calligraphy
In the Song Dynasty, a majority of the famous calligraphers like Tingjian were Buddhists. In particular, they belonged to a sect of Buddhism called Chan Buddhism. The sect originated in the mid-Tang Dynasty and by the Song Dynasty, it had become a major part of society. In Chan-Buddhism, the idea of seeing people in their true nature was emphasized. The sect emphasized the need of getting into the human mind. Under this thought, the Song Dynasty’s calligraphers strived for aesthetic taste. Calligraphers were encouraged to express themselves freely and not falsify anything (Qian & Fang, 2007). Tingjian reflected Chan-Buddhism in his cursive scripts. He kept in touch with famous monks which drove his belief in Buddhism. This allowed him to keep an open mind, which impacted his art immensely. Tingjian once said that his calligrap...