A Study Of Calligraphy In Weng Tonghe 's Diary

As a teacher of two emperors and military minister, Weng Tonghe, is an important figure in the politics of the late Qing Dynasty, who is good at writing poetry, painting and making collection, particularly at calligraphy. He is also a well-known calligrapher who plays a decisive role in the history of the late Qing Dynasty. The essays of Weng Tonghe’s Diary offer a lot of calligraphic materials for researches. Recently, most of studies are focused on Weng Tonghe and his calligraphy, but they are not systematic. Given that reason, this thesis will interpret the calligraphic data in Weng Tonghe’s Diary further and systematically. There are three chapters, which are divided into eight sections. Besides, the author makes a introduction at the beginning, and a conclusion at the end.The Introduction is giong to clarify three issues: firstly, it summarizes the research status of Weng Tonghe, including classifying his existing calligraphic research specifically, pointing out some limitations of his research, and drawing out the necessity of this study. Secondly, the author will comb different versions, alterations and value of Weng Tonghe’s Diary, which indicate the availability of this study. This study is based on the 6 volumes of Weng Tonghe’s Diary which is proofread by Chen Yijie, a simplified horizontal paperback published Zhonghua Book Company in 1989. Thirdly, the author will present the research methods which are used in this thesis.The first chapter makes a brief introduction of Weng Tonghe and his calligraphy, which is divided into two sections. The first section introduces Weng Tonghe including his biography experience, political thoughts, education views and literature achievements. The second section talks about the skeleton of Weng Tonghe’s calligraphy and interprets his succession in calligraphy. In addition, the author will also expound the practice, attitude and style of Weng Tonghe’s calligraphy.The second chapter deals with the classifications of calligraphic data which are involved in Weng Tonghe’s Diary. There are three sections in this chapter. The first one discusses the evaluation of calligraphic data chronologically. The author will collect and conclude the calligraphic characteristics of some brilliant calligraphers such as Yan Zhenqing, Wen Hengshan, Liu Shian, Weng Fanggang and He Shaoji whom Wen Tonghe has mentioned in Weng Tonghe’s Diary. The second section talks about the appreciation of stone inscription calligraphic data, including the format of stone inscription, authenticity identification and version authentication. The third section discusses the appraisement of calligraphy and painting, including assessment of calligraphy and painting’s value, appraisement of the price of calligraphy and painting and the analysis of uncertainty of this appraisement.The third chapter discusses the value of the calligraphic data mentioned in Weng Tonghe’s Diary based on the introduction in the first chapter and the classifications in the second chapter. There are three section in chapter 3. In the first section, the author will talk about the appreciation and collection value of calligraphy and painting in calligraphy literature. It mainly about how to offer clues of collecting, raise the value of collection and preserve the data of appreciation and collection. The second section expounds further the significance of his calligraphy theory. Weng Tonghe’s calligraphic views as well as the theoretical communication between calligraphers. The third section generalizes the historical value of calligraphy literature in Weng Tonghe’s Diary. The author places the calligraphic views of Weng Tonghe into the whole history of calligraphy to discuss the calligraphic achievement of blending stela into calligraphic copybook, which can present a spectacular scene where numerous people seek and pursue calligraphy.To conclude, the author will summarize the great value of calligraphic data in Weng Tonghe’s Diary and affirm his significant contributions in calligraphy innovation,calligraphy theory, even the history of the development of calligraphy. She also points out that there are still some problems need to be solved in this study. Four research directions are brought up and analyzed, which are beneficial for the researchers to do studies further.