1

Chinese 200:Chinese Calligraphy書法/ 書法

Fall 2011

Instructor: Yea-Fen Chen 陳雅芬

Office phone: 229-2492E-mail:

Office hours: TR: 2:30-3:30 by appointment (Curtin Hall 892)

Meeting Time & Classroom:LUB S241165 TR: 4:00-5:15

Class Reflector:

Texts (available at Panther Bookstore, 3213 N. Downer Ave.; Tel: 967-1111)

Required:

  • Eight Hundred Characters in the Standard Script for Beginning Chinese Brush Writing by Tsung Chin, China Culture Development Foundation Fund Publication Company, 2001.

Chinese Calligraphy: An Introduction to Its Aesthetic and Technique by Yee Chiang, Harvard Univ. Press, 1973. $25.50

Recommended:

  • Chinese Brushwork in Calligraphy and Painting: Its History, Aesthetics, and Techniques by KwoDa-Wei, Dover Publications, Inc., 1981.

Course Description

This is a course for beginning Chinese calligraphy. It will teach students how to produce Chinese calligraphy during hands-on practice in class. In addition to the history, development, aesthetics, and appreciation of Chinese calligraphy, it also includes many aspects of the culturally fascinating heritage of China. Each class begins with a lecture on a specific aspect of Chinese culture, and is then followed by brush writing practice. The same 20 characters selected for in-class practice will be used for the weekly brush writing homework. Besides the weekly brush writing homework, there are some small projects during the semester. .

Students in this class are also expected to explore the considerable amount of material relating to Chinese calligraphy available on the World Wide Web and study articles and example styles online.

Grading:

Attendance & Participation20%

Midterm (First test & brush work: March 17)20%

Second Test (May 12)10%

Final Project (May 18)15%

Homework (weekly brush writing & mini projects)30%

Oral Presentation(s) 5%

There will be two tests. The first one has two parts: the first part is based up the lessons, student oral presentations and lectures, and brush writing. The second test will take place on two separate days, the first part (test) in class during the last meeting, and the second part (project presentation) during the finals week.

Homework and assignments:

  1. Weekly homework: Students are assigned 20 characters to practice at home each week. Students should turn in 4 practice sheets. It is important that students practice calligraphy several times a week, and ideally every day.
  2. Weekly in-class work: each week students are asked to practice on the assigned materials in class. By the end of the class each student should turn in at least 2 practice sheets.
  3. One written/oral report: each student will choose an area of Chinese calligraphy and write a 1 page report based on the material he/she find in outside reading or on the internet. Starting in the 4th week, students will be asked to make oral reports based on the research they are working on: a calligrapher or a related cultural topic. A written report is due on the same day the presentation is made. (A chart will be distributed to the class.)
  4. Weekly homework must be written on white coarse paper (xuānzhĭ). In-class practice can be written on practice papers (máobiānzhĭ: yellowish paper).
  5. All weekly homework sheets must be submitted very next class meeting. The in-class practice sheets should be submitted right after class. Oral reports must be presented in the specified class meetings. The written report is due in the specified week.

Class meetings:

  1. Attendance is an essential course requirement. Active participation in classroom activities is expected.
  2. Please come to class on time. Absences and lack of participation in classroom activities will definitely affect the final grade.
  3. Four unexcused absences will result in automatic failure of the course.
  4. For an absence to be excused, student must produce compelling evidence of the gravity or unforseenability of the event causing the absence. The instructor will have the ultimate say in deciding whether or not to accept a student's excuse.
  5. The instructor is not responsible for students not being informed of homework or not receiving the handouts due to absences.
  6. Please turn off your cellular phones in the classroom.

Progress

In determining the final grade, the instructor will take into consideration not only the proficiency level at the time of grading, but also the improvement achieved over the course of the semester. Students with a high level of proficiency at the beginning of the semester who do not make significant progress over the course of the semester may expect to be marked down.

Addendum

*The Secretary of the University has a page dedicated to policieswhich includes information on policies for religious observances, incomplete, academic misconduct, grade appeal procedures, and final examination policy, students called to military service, discriminatory conduct, and complaint procedures. The following is the link you may access the respective policies.

Academic dishonesty of any kind is grounds for expulsion from this course.

Essential equipment (available at the UWM Bookstore)

• brush 毛筆bĭ大楷dàkăi /中楷zhōngkăitip 11/2 - 2 in

•inkblock硯台yàntái

•inkstick墨mò

• rice paper 紙zhĭ(available at the UWM Bookstore)

  1. practice paper (máobiānzhĭ): yellowish paper (with or without the 9-cell grid)
  2. formal calligraphy paper (xuānzhĭ): plain coarse white paper in a scroll or in a book (100 sheets, Hanshi, Japanese style)

Additional equipment

• water dish 筆洗bĭxĭ

• brush holder 筆捲bĭjiuăn

• bottled ink 墨汁mòzhī

• paperweight 文鎮wénzhèn

• felt pad 墊布diànbù

Useful Websites

  • Newsletter of Calligraphy Education Group <
  • Art-Asia Net equipment & techniques
  • Chinavista equipment & techniques
  • Chinapage< historical background, historical samples, links
  • Taiwanese Government Site < introduction; background; video
  • Zhongwen.com < Chinese characters; stroke order

Class schedule

Week &
Date / Assigned Reading / Lecture Topic(s) & Classroom Activities / Brush Writing / Note
Week 1: /
  • Kwo: Part I 1-4; Part III pp. 125-140
/ Introduction & The Four Essentials for Chinese Calligraphy / Buy writing tools
Week 2: /
  • Chin: Lessons 0-III
  • Chiang: Chap. 1
  • Kwo: Part I 1-4; Part III pp. 125-140
/ Training Procedure & the Eight Major Stroke Types / Basic techniques
(or p. 130) / Sign Up Oral Report
Week 3: /
  • Chin: Lesson IV
  • Chiang: Chap. 2
  • Kwo: Part I pp. 5-25
/ Numerals / Basic techniques
& p. 20
Week 4: /
  • Chin: Lesson V
  • Chiang: Chap. 3
  • Kwo: Part I pp. 26-51
/ Date and Seasons
3 oral presentations / p. 24
Week 5: /
  • Chin: Lesson VI
  • Chiang: Chap. 4
  • Kwo: Part II, pp. 53-73
/ The 60-Year Cycle
3 oral presentations / p. 28
Week 6: /
  • Chin: Lesson VII
  • Chiang: Chap. 5
/ The Animal Signs
3 oral presentations / p. 32
Week 7: /
  • Chin: Lesson VIII
  • Chiang: Chap. 6
/ Customs
3 oral presentations / p. 36
Week 8:
(3/15, 17) /
  • Review Chin: Lessons 0-8,
  • Chiang: Chaps. 1-6
/ Midterm
Week 9: /
  • Chin: Lessons IX
  • Chiang: chap. 7
  • Kwo, chap. 5
/ Philosophy and Ideology
2 or 3oral presentations / p. 40
Week 10: /
  • Chin: Lesson X
  • Chiang: Chap. 8
/ History and Dynasties
2 or 3oral presentations / p. 45
Week 11: /
  • Chin: Lesson XI
  • Chiang: Chap. 9
/ Historical Figures
2 or 3 oral presentations / p. 49
Week 12: /
  • Chin: Lesson XII
  • Chiang: Chap. 10
/ Poetry
2 or 3 oral presentations / p. 56
Week 13 /
  • Chin: Lesson XIII
  • Chiang: Chap. 11
/ Writing Forms
2 or 3 oral presentations / pp. 82-85
Week 14: /
  • Chin: Lessons XIV & XV
/ The Six Etymological Classes of Characters; The Dictionary; Guest speaker / p. 67
Week 15: / Review / Review & Test

** The schedule above is tentative and is subject to change due to student needs, class delays, holidays, and the introduction of additional course material.

  • The final project presentation is scheduled during the finals week.