劉熙載《藝概‧書概》論書法對立統一之形式美

Liu xizai 《Y-igai‧Shugai》 a Theory to the Beauty of Chinese Calligraphy

劉熙載論書，以對立統一之中和為美。其論書藝之創作，必先澄心靜慮，用志不紛，務使意在筆前，筆居心後。其論書之筆法，主張中鋒用筆，強調筆鋒要始、中、終俱實，筆毫要上下左右皆齊，務使筆心常在點畫中行；行筆則要逆入、澀行、緊收，筆筆提，筆筆按，使筆鋒無處不到。其論書之結體，主張下筆須先隱為部署，立於不敗；書宜平正，主筆必位於書之中宮，以管束其他點畫，使其似欹反正。至於一字點畫之多寡與分布，務使疏密相乘除，空白少而神遠，空白多而神密。其論書之章法，小如一字及數字，大如一行及數行，一幅及數幅，皆須相避相形，相呼相應。其通篇佈局，當於整齊中見參差，不齊中求其大齊，務使字裏行間潛氣內轉，書脈流通照應，一氣貫注。

Liu's theory of Chinese calligraphy is the neutralization of confronting and unifying. To be ready, one has to clear his or her mind and forget all distractions. Make sure that one think before write and the writing brush exist in one's heart. As for the skill of Chinese calligraphy, Liu's opinion was to write with the middle brush point. Brush hairs are even on each direction. Be sure that the tip should be at the middle brush point. Brush point must be tangible at the beginning, middle and ending whenwriting. rush hairs are even on each direction. Be sure that the tip should be at the middle of every stroke. While writing, starts with an inverse stroke, when laying down the brush on the sheet, it is pin down by the fiber of the sheets. And every stroke has a clear cut. Lift and press the brush in every stroke. The tip of the writing brush can cover most of the words. As for the ending stroke, he claimed that when begins to write, you should hide the disposition. To stand at an unbeatable position. Calligraphy is neat and equitable. The main stroke is in the center of a word in order to control other strokes. The main stroke looks askew but through arrangement, the word will seems upright. As regards the number and distribution of strokes for a word, find the golden ratio between strokes and blank. For example, the strokes may be very close like not leaving much blank, but viewers won't think it's crowded; the strokes may be far away from each other like having a large portion of blank, but viewers will feel that the strokes are still tightly connected. For the presentation of ideas in a piece of calligraphy, smaller like a word or several, larger like a line or many lines, even one piece of calligraphy or more pieces, the calligraphist should avoid conflicts and try to have complementation. Concerning the overall arrangement. See irregularity in an ordered piece. Seek even in disorder. Say the strokes and blank creates space. An invisible air stream flows in this space. Chinese calligraphy is to keep this air stream running. In the end, strokes are coherent, like blood circulating in the pulse. A word is absorbed in one stroke.