Learn to write in Chinese using calligraphy

Learn to write in Chinese using calligraphy Learn Chinese calligraphy ChaptersAs a traditional art form, is calligraphy a good way to learn how to write in Chinese?Learn to read Chinese via calligraphy - something that’s available to everyone?Use Chinese calligraphy to break down the lettersWhere can you learn Chinese calligraphy in America?Chinese calligraphy, also known as ??, is one of humanity's most ancient art forms. The mastery of strokes, the quality of the brushes, and the emotions they represent have survived millennia and the style has developed its own unique technique.Artists like Ouyang Xun, Wang Xizhi and Ngan Siu-Mui have helped elevate these ‘noble characters’ to their own popular art form which is increasingly drawing admiration from the West.Some people examine each stroke for clues about the artists' emotions and state of mind. Chinese calligraphy is often - but not always - associated with concepts like relaxation, spiritualness, and escape.An integral part of Chinese culture since antiquity, learning the script can be a grea t way for Chinese students to learn how to write in Chinese while leaving their pencil case at home. NingChinese Teacher 5.00 (10) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorraineChinese Teacher £10/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YuweiChinese Teacher 4.33 (6) £19/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoyceChinese Teacher £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NicoleChinese Teacher £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KatyChinese Teacher £16/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors YangChinese Teacher £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChengChinese Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsAs a traditional art form, is calligraphy a good way to learn how to write in Chinese?What’s the difference between the large seal (dazhuan) and the small seal (xiaozhuan)?Considered a true way of life, a quiet moment for reflection on our presence on this earth, or an ode to human dexterity, calligraphy is a truly ancestral art form†¦The historical artifacts and writings left behind by generations of Chinese, whether from the Xia, Han, or Ming dynasty, all show a high appreciation for the beauty of the Chinese script.Just like calligraphy, writing the Chinese characters requires you to follow a number of rules and to make sure your brushstrokes flow in the right order.Plus, all Chinese writing is calligraphy to a certain extent, but writing with a brush elevates it to an art form. Learning this traditional art form is also a great way to learn to write Mandarin Chinese.Styles of Chinese calligraphyToday, there are six main styles of writing calligraphy, and each style has played an important role in the development of the Hanzi over several millennia.Jia Gu Wen - more than 3000 years old, this style was created during the Shang or Yin dynasties and can be seen on bones (and torture tools) discovered in the last century.Seal writing (also known as zhuanshu) - created during the Zhou dynasty, this writing style c an be seen on bronze sculptures from that period known as jinwen. This style is still in use.Official writing from the palace scribes (lishu) - this style of writing was meant to be simpler and faster, more suitable for administrative use by the empire. This style has many similarities with the modern version of hanzi in use in standard simplified Mandarin today.Regular, normal, or kaishu writing - first appearing during the Han dynasty in the 3rd century AD, this style is elegant, standardized, and uniform. This is the style of calligraphy that is taught in schools in the People’s Republic of ChinaModern ‘typical’ writing, or xingshu - this is a bit like the cursive version of the regular kaishu writing. Also first originating during the Han dynasty, this style is based on the need to increase writing speed.Weed writing, or caoshu - there’s definitely no Chinese calligraphy system with any relation to marijuana - no, this style is meant to be a bit free-er and faster to wri te, so the letters are all joined up. It’s often difficult to read, this style is written without the aid of an imaginary box and has spurred other numerous variations.We’ve also got tips on how to learn the Chinese alphabet…Learn to read Chinese via calligraphy - something that’s available to everyone?What are the six main styles of Chinese calligraphy?Learn calligraphy in the WestCalligraphy is a popular art form in North America and Europe, often praised for its virtues of introspection, relaxation, and the meditative process of writing. Chinese art lovers cannot help but be moved by the beauty of Chinese calligraphy as well.In order to practice calligraphy, learning to speak Mandarin Chinese isn’t required, although people who start studying calligraphy also often sign up for Chinese classes to learn how to speak, understand and write Chinese.Like any art form, calligraphy also requires a certain amount of talent and a dedication to practicing almost daily in order to improve.Look up for Mandarin courses London.The necessary tools for Chinese calligraphyAlthough certainly open to everyone, above all calligraphy requires motivation, as well as the resources to purchase the basic tools for practicing your new hobby.Just like football, singing, or playing an instrument (where you’d need, respectively, a ball, microphone, or guitar) calligraphy is the art of writing, and it requires tools and supplies.So called the ‘four treasures’ in Chinese, here are the key tools for practicing calligraphy:The calligraphy brush: the brush, with its bamboo stem and brush fibers should be chosen for the way it fits in your hand and what you’re hoping to create in the realm of calligraphy. The fibers of the brush generally come from the hair of an animal like a goat or a fox. Make sure that you always reshape it into its pointed form before letting it dry.China soy ink: generally a liquid ink, it’s best to invest in a better quality ink that won’t run as much.Rice paper - There are many different sizes, shapes, and forms available. Follow the advice of your calligraphy teacher when buying, as some versions can absorb too much ink. The yellow paper is only meant for practice.An inkwell or stone: this ancient writing tool will let you get ink onto your brush quickly, just by brushing solid ink with water.Use Chinese calligraphy to break down the lettersYou can spend years learning and perfecting the basics of Chinese writing.Technically speaking, Chinese calligraphy is a good option for people interested in Chinese culture who aren’t quite ready to commit to signing up for Chinese language classes but still want to learn the script…In Chinese, you are generally always writing inside an imaginary box, unless you’re a professional calligrapher making some artistic flourishes.The balance and proportions typical of Chinese characters are necessary to maintain as you write out the Hanzi characters. It’s important to keep their regu lar, geometric, and well-proportioned shape as your brush moves across the paper.Each character is made up of several brushstrokes, which follow and set order and system.Now standardized in China, Chinese calligraphy - just like Chinese characters - is written from left to right as well as horizontally. Learning calligraphy is therefore also a great way to learn how to write Chinese characters, whether you’re learning online, or by hand.However, in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, and in some overseas Chinese populations, the typical directions are sometimes abandoned for tradition, and you may find writing going from:high to lowand from right to left(It’s worth noting that this last point is helpful if you’re planning to try and decipher any ancient Chinese texts).During a typical introduction to calligraphy, the teacher will often ask the student to study the 8 base strokes of the character “yong” and break it down. Another learning method often focuses on learning t he different symbols within a Chinese character and breaking down its meaning in order to natural improve a student’s reading comprehension.You might also like to learn how to write Chinese characters...Where can you learn Chinese calligraphy in America?How should you hold a brush in order to perfect your calligraphy?Whether it’s at rehab centers, schools, or museums, it’s easy to find Chinese calligraphy classes in the United States.Find a Chinese calligraphy class in New YorkThe venerable China Institute on Washington Street in New York offers a wide range of calligraphy and brush painting classes for adults, teens, and children.They generally run several calligraphy classes each semester, offering a range of class times for anyone’s schedule. Classes last for two hours and promise a meditative and calm atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of New York City. Materials are provided for the first class, with plenty of advice so you can purchase your own supplies before the next session.Each 10 class session promises to get you going, even if you’re a total beginner with no knowledge of Chinese language. But for those who are also interested in speaking and reading Chinese, the center offers a large selection of classes.Take Chinese calligraphy classes in San FranciscoMing’s Chinese Calligraphy is a San Francisco institution, run by Mr. Mak Ming Chan himself, who was born to an artistic family in Guangdong province before moving to Hong Kong in the 1970s to work as a professional artist. He now offers private calligraphy classes located at his studio in Parkside, at the price of £200 for 4 1.5 hour lessons.Learn Chinese calligraphy in BostonThe Fo Guang Buddhist Temple in Boston, located on Concord Ave in Cambridge, offers weekly calligraphy lessons every Saturday afternoons. Classes last for 1.5 hours, and the temple has been an active member of the Cambridge community since the late 90s.Take Chinese calligraphy lessons with a private tutorFo r the most motivated students who want to improve quickly and have already invested in all the supplies they’ll need to learn calligraphy, a private tutor is a good option.Often Chinese natives or art-school graduates from Taiwan, Singapore, or Hong Kong, these tutors can often come straight to your house.There are plenty of tutors to choose from on Superprof.And of course on Superprof, classes average just £25/hour and your first class is free!Discover the best way to learn how to write Hanzi...