Customer Reviews

Chinese Calligraphy: An Introduction to Its Aesthetic and Technique, Third Revised and Enlarged Edition

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The book deals with the traditional art of Calligraphy from both a philosophical and an aesthetic point of view and uses numerous examples for the serious student of Chinese Calligraphy. It is written in a lively and informed manner that will stimulate the reader's imagination and appreciation of the art of Calligraphy and its masters throughout history. It is the #1 book in the field.

As a Chinese brush painting teacher I would recommend this book to my student who start learning Chinese painting or Calligraphy. The new additional chapters in this third edition covers the historical and aesthetical relationship between Chinese calligraphy and painting as well as other art forms like seal engraving. If you, like the author(and me), are from China and teach Chinese as second language, Chinese calligraphy or Chinese art history you will definately need to have this book. BTW, I have got a Chinese version of this book too so I can compare it with the English version which helps me to learn how to teach my Chinese painting class in English. I have not found a college-level teaching book better than this one in the field.

I feel that Mr. Chiang Yee's book provides an excellent introduction to the art of Chinese Calligraphy as well as to the idiosyncrasies of Chinese aesthetics. However, it is an old book, and it constantly dates itself. There is more than a touch of "orientalism" in this book, and Mr. Yee presents China the way it would be seem to a Westerner a half century ago, as a mysterious place, a dark "other" with incomprehensible mystic traditions that stand in sharp contrast to the bright and carefully delineated West. For example, he makes the assertion several times through the book that a person's appearance and personality can be gauged by their calligraphy style. Analyzing Emperor Hui Tsung's calligraphy Yee reveals to us that the emperor was "a well-built handsome figure." Of course, as this particular emperor died nearly 1800 years ago, there is absolutely no way to empirically refute or support his claims. Of course, we can't forget that modern China is not a land of dragons and mystics. It is a nuclear power, and a burgeoning economic superpower. However, with that one caveat in mind, I would still heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Chinese calligraphy or aesthetic traditions.