The Art of Chinese Calligraphy (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Following a history of Chinese calligraphy—going all the way back to the pictographic beginnings of Chinese writing more than 4,000 years ago—the author explains the basic construction of individual characters and the ways in which calligraphy is used by Chinese artists, including calligraphic seals and inscriptions on paintings. The final chapters are devoted to detailed, step-by-step instructions for using Chinese painting equipment and for mastering the techniques needed to create stunning examples of brushwork calligraphy. Many b/w illustrations. Bibliography. Index.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; illustrated edition edition (June 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486417395
• ISBN-13: 978-0486417394
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #762,545 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I was right !!!, March 5, 2004

By	Alcat Garcia "aka bel_78 // A.G. is just an a... (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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In this book, Jean Long introduces us to Chinese calligraphy. As he explains, even though "calligraphy" only means "words written by hand", to the Chinese it is an art with a long history. He affirms that "the characters not only convey the language of thought but also, in a visual way, the artistic beauty of the thought".

In the introduction to "The Art of Chinese calligraphy", the author says that the purpose of the book is allowing the readers to delight in the intrinsic beauty of Chinese calligraphy, even if they haven't yet mastered the Chinese language. Also, J. Long points out that in this book he provides the instructions that allow the readers who want to try their hands at Chinese calligraphy to do so. The instructions include a step by step guide to using the necessary equipment, and all that is needed to learn the different brushwork techniques. Finally, he also expresses his hope that "a greater understanding of the art of Chinese calligraphy will provide a clearer insight into the character of the Chinese people themselves".

The book is very well divided into interesting chapters that are easy to read and contain a lot of information even though they aren't overly long. The 1st chapter is titled "The development of Chinese calligraphy", and deals with the history of this art. It is worthwhile mentioning that this chapter and all the others include many useful illustrations, specially photographs (for example, a photograph of a ritual vessel from the 10th century BC, inscribed with characters). The 2nd chapter, "Chinese calligraphy as an art form", explains how it developed to an art form, from the merely functional act of writing. The 3rd chapter is "Language as a way to the understanding of Chinese thought", and the 4th is "The calligraphic seal". Chapters 5 and 6 deal with "Chinese porcelain and ceramics" and "Inscriptions on paintings" respectively, and chapter 7 centers on "Chinese painting equipment and how to use it". Lastly, chapter 8 is about "The techniques of Chinese calligraphy".

When I bought this book I was not exceedingly interested in attempting Chinese calligraphy, but I wanted to know more about it and the importance it has for Chinese culture. I decided to buy "The Art of Chinese calligraphy" because I considered it would be able to answer my questions... And thankfully, I was right!. This book is a great introduction to the subject, and it is highly likely to be useful not only to artists but also to readers like me who don't want to paint but love to learn about other cultures.

On the whole, I think this book is a keeper, and I highly recommend it :)

Belen

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy, January 9, 2005

By	A. Silverstone (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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Chinese calligraphy is a mammoth subject with thousands of years of history. In addition, calligraphy in Chinese culture has achieved a recognition and respect as an art form that has never been matched by its Western counterparts. Jean Long has written a very readable book that provides an excellent overview to the history of Chinese writing from the tortoise shell oracle bones through bronze inscriptions, pottery vases and, of course, calligraphic scrolls. Also, the author provides basic instructions for how to hold a brush, grind ink, and write a few characters on your own. Given the breadth of the material, the author covers it well, but this book, on account of its brevity, serve as an introduction to whet your appetite. One would then look elsewhere to explore more deeply the various techniques and different calligraphic styles.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable reading, January 16, 2007

By	Larry H. Burdoin (Spanish Springs, Nevada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book covers Chinese calligraphy very well. You can gain an appreciation for both the mechanics of calligraphy technique as well as the artistic look of the finished product. Dover Publications has done a good job with this well illustrated book.

The book was informative and a pleasure to read.