China News Agency, Hong Kong, January 31. Title: Unique technique presents the beauty of Chinese characters: Interview with Hong Kong "Double Hook" calligrapher Zhang Baosheng
China News Agency reporter Liu Dawei
Calligraphy is a unique form of artistic expression of Chinese culture. The unique charm of Chinese characters is manifested by splashing ink and brush strokes.
In the era when there was no advanced printing technology, in order to preserve the authentic works of calligraphers, the calligraphy form of "double hook outline filling" came into being and evolved into a calligraphy learning method.
At his home in Longwei Village, Hong Kong, Hong Kong "Double Hook" calligrapher Zhang Baosheng recently accepted an interview with a reporter from China News Agency.
"Double hook" calligraphy began in the Southern Dynasties and flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties. It is a kind of hollow character written directly with a single line.
Zhang Baosheng told reporters that there was no printing technology in the Southern Dynasties. In order to spread the calligraphy works of famous masters, calligraphers outlined the hollow characters according to the original works, and then filled them with ink, so that the viewers could get works similar to the authentic ones, such as "Lanting Collection Preface" "Long Live Tongtian Tie" and "Ping An Tie" were all preserved in this way by famous masters in Tang and Song Dynasties.
Born in Shanwei, Guangdong, the "hometown of ancient architecture", Zhang Baosheng was influenced by his grandfather who was a folk artist of stone carvings and miniature landscape basin carvings, as well as his grandfather who was engaged in ancient architecture and was good at Danqing. He was immersed in the traditional cultural atmosphere and liked graffiti since he was a child.
The first time he came into contact with "double hook" calligraphy was influenced by his grandfather.
"Because I was naughty and mischievous when I was young, I was only praised and rewarded by my grandfather when I wrote calligraphy."
Zhang Baosheng said that another reason why he likes "double hook" calligraphy is that it is "convenient to write and can use local materials".
Regardless of the branch or any pen, you can write "double hook" characters of any size.
After copying everyone's famous posts year after year, Zhang Baosheng finally practiced the technique of "Two Hooks without Copying" (that is, writing without copying), and formed his own unique calligraphy style.
As the saying goes, "seeing words is like meeting".
The characters in Zhang Baosheng's pen sometimes flow out elegantly, sometimes with strong winds, and sometimes continuously.
Regardless of any font, he is familiar with it by heart. In an instant, a "double hook" calligraphy is vivid on the paper, presenting the beauty of Chinese characters in a unique way.
In 1979, Cheung Po-sing moved to Hong Kong to work in the construction industry.
Although he is busy with work, he still has not given up his love for "double hook" calligraphy.
After years of tireless study, Zhang Baosheng, on the basis of retaining the aesthetic feeling of "double hook" calligraphy, integrated the strengths of various schools, and constantly innovated.
In Zhang Baosheng's view, the best way to inherit the art of calligraphy as the quintessence of the country is to innovate in the process of inheritance.
Today, his "double hook" calligraphy has not only evolved from the original overall "double hook" to the overlapping characters "double hook" and the combination of Chinese characters "double hook", but also absorbed the unique charm of Chinese landscape painting, combining calligraphy and painting to create "character in the calligraphy" "Double Hook" Calligraphy.
After living in Hong Kong for many years, Zhang Baosheng has a soft spot for the open and inclusive cultural atmosphere of Hong Kong, and he is more familiar with the new positioning of Hong Kong as a center for cultural and art exchanges between China and foreign countries.
In recent years, Zhang Baosheng has not only held exhibitions in Hong Kong to promote the art of "double hooks", but also traveled overseas to the United States, Southeast Asia and other places to set up exhibitions, hoping to let more people know about "double hooks" calligraphy and Chinese culture.
Every exhibition, his works of art will shock the audience.
As the inheritor of "Double Hook" calligraphy skills, Zhang Baosheng hopes that young people will be interested in "Double Hook" calligraphy.
He told reporters: "In recent years, I have also participated in some projects of 'Intangible Cultural Heritage Entering Campus', popularizing 'Double Hook' calligraphy, etc. to young students in Hong Kong, hoping to spread more knowledge to the next generation and let them know more about it. The quintessence of China, understanding what the ancestors passed down." (End)