The history of Chinese calligraphy is probably as long as that of China itself. Calligraphy is a special category(范畴) in China’s world of fine arts. Through the centuries Chinese characters have changed constantly and are mainly divided into five categories today: the seal script(zhuan shu), official script(li shu), regular script(kai shu), running script(xing shu)and cursive script(cao shu).
Calligraphy involves a great deal of theory and requires many skills. Among the most outstanding calligraphers in ancient China were Wang Xizhi, Ouyang Xun, Yan Zhenqing, and Liu Gongquan, who are known for pioneering their own styles.
In writing calligraphy, one will need a brush, paper, an ink stick and an ink stone, commonly referred to as the “Four Treasures of the Study”. There are different types of brushes. White goat hair, black rabbit hair and yellow weasel hair brushes are the main ones. According to their function, brushes are classified into three groups: hard, soft and medium. Brush sticks are usually made of bamboo, wood, or porcelain(瓷器); ivory or jade sticks are rare and precious.
The ink stick is a unique pigment(颜料)used for Chinese traditional painting and calligraphy. The most famous ink stick is hui mo(Anhui ink stick), made from pines that grow on Huangshan Mountain in Anhui Province. Clean water is needed to grind the ink stick. Press the ink stick hard and rub it lightly, slowly and evenly against the ink slab to make thick, liquid ink.
While paper comes in many varieties, Xuan paper, produced in Xuanzhou (today’s Anhui Province), is considered the best for Chinese calligraphy. The paper is soft and fine textured, suitable for conveying the artistic expression of both Chinese calligraphy and painting. With a good tensile(张力) strength and moth-proof (防蛀虫) quality, the paper can be preserved for a long time.
Ink stones or ink slabs(平板) have been classified into three categories: Duan, She and Tao. Features common to all three are hardness and fineness. Although the stone is hard and fine, it is not dry or slippery. Using a hard and smooth stone, liquid ink can be produced easily by rubbing the ink stick against the stone.
By handling the brush and ink skillfully and carefully, the artist can produce an infinite variety of calligraphic styles and forms.
1. How many varieties of Chinese calligraphy are mainly there today?
A. One. B. Three.
C. Five. D. Six.
2. What is NOT probably necessary when writing calligraphy?
A. A brush. B. Paper.
C. Ink stick. D. Wood
3. Which of the following is NOT the good quality of Xuan paper?
A. There are varieties of Xuan paper. B. It is very soft and good textured.
C. It can be kept for a long time. D. It is usually moth-proof.
4. What does the passage mainly tell us?
A. The history of Chinese calligraphy.
B. The introduction of Chinese calligraphy.
C. The Four Treasures of the Study.
D. The varieties of Chinese calligraphy.
