A Study Of How The Cognition Of The Term"Folk Calligraphy" Evolve In History

Even since the late19th century to the beginning of20th century, numerous ancient works of calligraphy have been unearthed, drawing the attention of the whole calligraphy circles. These works of calligraphy have been termed by some calligraphists "folk calligraphy", a term widely used ever since. This essay is to illustrate how the concept "folk calligraphy" has used in a historical term, and hence to put forward a view that the concept for this term among the calligraphy circles has been dramatically changed either intrinsically or an extrinsically, after the concept "folk calligraphy", which is received both with appreciation and criticism,was invented and widely used. This essay is also an analysis of most typical views by calligraphists and scholars on the concept "folk calligraphy", a summary of how their ways to define this concept differ and of the shortcomings of their defining methods, and an exploration of the significance and implication of the invention of this concept.It is the view of the author that the study of the newly-unearthed ancient works of calligraphy is favorable to the innovation of contemporary calligraphy and the theocratic research. However, it is irrational to term discriminately some of these works, the artistic value of which is inferior to the traditional and classical ones,’folk calligraphy’; to consider some crude and raw works,in want of artistic technique, as a source of innovation, or even as a basis on which some modern genres should derive. Therefore, there should be an object evaluation of the newly-unearthed works in terms of their value and their role, so as to ensure a sound development of contemporary calligraphy theocratic research and creation.