宋代四大書家行草特質之研究

Research on Characteristics of Cursive Styles of Four Masters in Sung Dynasty

蔡襄、蘇軾、黃庭堅、米芾四大家，在書法史上，世稱「宋四家」；其行草書不僅繼承王羲、獻之父子秀麗遒勁的風格，更開創出氣勢雄渾磅礡的大行草書，拓展展書法的多元形式美感，使書法具有更豐富的視覺效果，並引領宋代書壇之炯意風氣。這四大家自身的思想、情感、經歷，藉著行草書動態線條的揮灑，往往營造出萬般意象的神韻境界。由於宋代是中國文藝發展的黃金時期，不論詩、詞或繪畫，均達顛峰之成就；而四大家的書法在其歷代君王喜好、支持與推動下，所謂「上有所好，下必從焉」，呈現蓬勃之勢。四大家除法家的身分，亦是讀詞文畫兼擅的文人，而此雅好文學、藝術的創作，對行草書不無影響；此外，他們亦多涉獵佛學，與佛門高僧交遊密切，此亦流露於其書道思想。因此，四大家之書法與文學、繪畫、佛學，奕融合一，且成為其行草書之特質。是故，本文分從北宋之前的行草書、宋代行草書的盛行及其原因、宋四家行草書美感特質之研析等三方面，深入探討四大家行草書獨特之藝術風華。

Regarding various styles of Chinese calligraphy, the cursive styles are more complicated than the standard style, seal style and clerical style in terms of stroke, structure, composition, and density of ink, and are more magnificent in the visual effect. Sung Dynasty was the golden age in the development of Chinese art and literature; the achievements in poetry and painting reached the peak. Many calligraphers appeared, especially after the Ching-Li period of Emperor Jen-Tsung. The renowned calligraphers, Tsai Hsiang, Su Shih, Huang Ting-Chien, and Mi Fei, were called “Four Masterts of Sung Dynasty.” With great contributions and influences on the art of calligraphy, they were not only representative calligraphers of Sung Dynasty, but also important masters in the history of Chinese calligraphy. The Four Masters of Sung Dynasty were also men of letters good at poetry and painting. Moreover, the Four Masters of Sung Dynasty enjoyed studying Buddhistic books or made friends with senior Buddhistic nuns. And this had an indirect influence on the four masters who naturally blended the religious thoughts into their calligraphic masterpieces. In addition to the preface and conclusion, this article includes three pars –cursive styles before Northern Sung Dynasty, popularity of cursive stles in Sung Dynasty and the reasons for it, research and analysis on the beauty of cursive styles of Four Masters of Sung Dynasty – in order to make a further investigation on the characteristics of running and cursive styles of Four Masters of Sung Dynasty and to take a look at the artistic beauty and charm of the aforesaid calligraphic styles in Sung Dynasty.