A Study On Calligraphy And Social Life Of Song Dynasty

This article expands on the case study based on the scope of social life. First, it rationally reflects the new changes and cultural spirit of calligraphy and then seeks the internal relation between calligraphy and social life. Here, we'll expatiate on the social motivation and cultural background for the transition on calligraphy style of Song Dynasty, taking the changes in the concept of social life as a clue and"secularization"of the calligraphy spirit of numerous scholars as a core.The first chapter, "Calligraphy and Concept of Social Life in Song Dynasty", is the argument and origin of this article. Hereon, we'll reveal the historical background and specific performance on the changes of social life in Song Dynasty, by reviewing several elements such as new changes of civil life style, the rise of hedonism, openness and pluralism of society. Meanwhile we'll take Song calligraphy under the influence of new ideas as a cultural phenomenon to investigate coordinately, which aims at grasping the social basis of style changes of Song calligraphy and then find out the inner relation from the concept of social life and time characters of calligraphy.The second chapter, "Calligraphy and Song Court Life", is the further argument of this article. We'll investigate the influence on calligraphy brought by court culture and political factors, starting from emperor's"loving calligraphy"and fashion of calligraphy in court life. Emperor's elegant fancy during free time out of holding court, calligraphy at the banquet, and the talking about calligraphy between the monarch and his courtiers, they all reflects the social character of "cultivating enlightenment and ethic" "gentleman art". If we say that literati love calligraphy for taking it as their spirit represent, while emperor's"loving calligraphy"can reflect their kingcraft"Doing nothing is doing everything". So scholars'loving calligraphy accordant with emperor's, it's also the argument tenet of this article.The third chapter, "Calligraphy and Song Literati Life", is the core of argument in this article. This chapter expands separately from the fashion of literati and calligraphy as well as singing girls, their spiritual world and calligraphic thinking. It illustrates that calligraphy free from fame inducements is becoming a light and elegant hobby of literati by cultivating oneself and calligraphy, "travel entertainment" and calligraphy. They sometimes spend time learning calligraphy to base their literary pursuits, sometimes adapt themselves by writing dhyana in calligraphy. In a word, calligraphy,as an elegant fashion of society,just deeply corresponds with the spiritual world of literati. For this reason, calligraphy gradually forms its innovative concept of new times. In addition, this chapter will bravely connect singing girls with calligraphy to analyze the sutle effect brought by favor of literati under the influence of singing girls. At the same time, the "charm" often discoursed by Song people will be emphasized and used to research into the historical causes and spiritual power for the new change of Song calligraphy as the best tie between people and calligraphy.The fourth chapter, "Calligraphy and Song Commonalty Life". This chapter, set in the commonalty life of Song Dynasty, reveals the common sense of calligraphy in commonalty life by discussing calligraphy and civil life as well as the economy of metropolis. Its specific embodiment is in the review of calligraphy works from Dongjing and Linan, honorarium of calligraphist as well as the "value" of calligraphy and economy. It's also the first time to discuss " the secularization of words used for talking calligraphy by Song people". And as a conclusion, this article fully confirms the symble of overall transform and new fashion of Song calligraphy: becoming secular.