Unveiling the Art of Chinese Calligraphy: Play With Six Basic Chinese Strokes

Chinese calligraphy, with its rich history dating back thousands of years, is not just a form of writing, but also an artistic expression that carries great cultural significance. Its beauty lies in the elegant strokes and the emotions they convey. Getting acquainted with the six basic Chinese strokes can be a fun and engaging way to explore this ancient art form.

Understanding the Importance of Strokes

Chinese calligraphy is distinct in its emphasis on strokes. Each stroke carries its own meaning and character, and mastering them can greatly enhance your ability to write and appreciate this exquisite art. The six basic strokes form the foundation of Chinese characters and are essential to creating harmonious and balanced calligraphy.

JJ Easy Chinese 1: Play with Six Basic Chinese Strokes

by Jennifer Yu(Kindle Edition)

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4922 KB
Print length	:	15 pages

FREE

The Six Basic Strokes:

1. Horizontal Stroke:

The horizontal stroke, also known as the "heng," represents stability and balance. It is often the first stroke learned as it forms the backbone of many characters. Placing emphasis on the direction and curvature of the stroke is essential to achieving its desired effect.

2. Vertical Stroke:

The "shu," or vertical stroke, symbolizes growth and strength. It is a fundamental stroke often combined with other strokes to create character forms. Paying attention to the alignment and consistency of vertical strokes is crucial in achieving the intended expression.

3. Left-Falling Stroke:

The "pie," or left-falling stroke, creates a sense of movement and elegance. It slants from the top left to the bottom right and is often found in characters denoting natural elements. Proper control of the angle and length helps convey the grace inherent in this stroke.

4. Right-Falling Stroke:

The "na," or right-falling stroke, complements the left-falling stroke, creating a harmonious balance. It slants from the top right to the bottom left and is frequently combined with other strokes to depict various objects and concepts. Empowering this stroke with the appropriate pressure and speed is essential to achieving a harmonious composition.

5. Dot:

The "dian," or dot, brings focus and precision to calligraphy. It is a small but vital stroke that can dramatically change the overall meaning of characters. Accuracy and placement are critical in ensuring the intended visual effect.

6. Hook:

The "gou," or hook, adds a sense of playfulness and interest to calligraphic compositions. It is a curved stroke that can be found at the end of various characters. Controlling the curve and size of the hook greatly influences the visual impact and delicacy conveyed.

Play With Six Basic Chinese Strokes:

Now that we have explored the six basic Chinese strokes, let's dive into playful ways to practice and enhance your calligraphy skills:

1. Stroke Writing Apps:

There are numerous stroke writing apps available that not only teach the basic strokes but also provide interactive exercises to practice writing characters. These apps often offer stroke order animations and real-time feedback, helping you refine your stroke techniques.

2. Interactive Calligraphy Workshops:

Join a calligraphy workshop or class that incorporates hands-on activities and offers guidance from experienced calligraphers. These interactive sessions allow you to experiment with strokes in a supportive environment, giving you valuable insights and personalized instructions.

3. Stroke Tracing Worksheets:

Print or download stroke tracing worksheets that provide step-by-step instructions for each stroke. These worksheets mimic the structure of characters and guide you on proper stroke order and direction, allowing you to practice at your own pace.

4. Brush and Ink Practice:

Invest in quality calligraphy brushes, ink, and paper to experience the traditional method of writing Chinese characters. Experiment with different brush sizes and ink consistencies to understand how strokes can vary based on tools and techniques.

5. Creative Strokes in Artwork:

Apply your understanding of the basic strokes to create your own artwork. Experiment with combining strokes and varying their lengths, thicknesses, and angles. Play with spacing and negative space to develop unique compositions that reflect your artistic sensibilities.

6. Join Online Calligraphy Communities:

Connect with fellow calligraphy enthusiasts through online communities and social media platforms. Share your progress, seek feedback, and learn from experienced artists who can guide you in exploring more advanced techniques and styles.

Remember, calligraphy is a continuous journey of learning and self-expression. Embrace the elegance of the six basic Chinese strokes, and let your creativity flow as you uncover the profound art of Chinese calligraphy.

JJ Easy Chinese 1: Play with Six Basic Chinese Strokes

by Jennifer Yu(Kindle Edition)

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4922 KB
Print length	:	15 pages

FREE

Prepare for the Four Industry Revolution
Now the Fourth Industry Revolution is around, and we have to prepare for it. On December 7, 2012, Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman stated, “A critical time to shape productivity is from birth to age five when the brain develops rapidly to build the foundation of cognitive and character skills necessary for success school, health, career, and life. Early childhood education fosters cognitive skills, along with attentiveness, motivation, self-control, and sociability...Starting at age three or four is too little, too late, as it fails to recognize that skills beget skills in a complementary and dynamic way. Efforts should focus on the first years for the greatest efficiency and effectiveness…” (www.heckmanequation.org)

Recently scientists, in particular, neurologists and physiologists, have drawn their attention to infantile bilingual learning. Dr. Kuhl, Co-Director of UW Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, addressed, “Children’s early language skills predict future reading abilities; conversely, those skills not developed early are difficult to remediate later on.” (Patricia Kuhl: The linguistic Genius of Babies | Video on TED.com). ” 

In the 21st Century, the world is globalized. Learning the Chinese language is not only because of China’s growing economy and the profound Chinese culture, but because the human brain mainly uses the left brain to process Pinyin text information, while the left and right brains are used to process Chinese character information. Each Chinese character is a figure and is more closely related to the right brain, promoting the balanced development of left and right brain functions. Scientists have discovered that children use their fingers to stimulate the brain, which can enhance the brain's vitality far more than rote memorization—thereby, the fingers are the outpost of wisdom, and their movements reflect the development of the brain, and the younger, the more obvious.

After birth, the cells in a baby’s brain connect via five senses(vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.) However, cell connection will disappear if stimulation does not continually repeat. Therefore, the book titled “JJ Easy Chinese” accent on birth through age six. Instead of traditional card-reading and word-copying, the book teaches the mother (or a caregiver, or a teacher) how to hold the baby’s finger moving along the strokes(touch-based),how to distinguish words’ similarities and differences (vision-based and observation-based),how to make words and phrases(creativity-based ),and so forth. The key is not to require a child to learn words or sentences but to bring the child to be interested in learning Chinese naturally and happily. There are videos on Youtube: Book 1 Lesson 1 Héng 横, Lesson 2 Shù 竖, Lesson 3 Diǎn 点, Lesson 4 Piě 撇,  Lesson 5 Nà 捺, and Lesson 6 提tí.