On "Ink Penetrability" Of Wang Duo’S Calligraphy

Research BackgroundInk is one of the essential tools for Chinese calligraphy."The technique of ink refers to the calligrapher’s control of thickness, fluidness and penetrability of ink."In An Essay of Meditation Drawing Hall, Dong Qichang said,"the skill of writing goes with the brush and the success of writing with ink." In Two Oars for the Boat of Art, Bao Shichen said "in writing and drawing, the basic factor is the brush and the success comes from ink. The technique of ink is vitally important in calligraphy." Therefore, we can see that ink plays an important role in Chinese calligraphy throughout history. The relationship between the brush and the ink is indispensablly interdependent.At the end of Ming dynasty and the beginning of Qing dynasty, Wang Duo, a calligrapher, borrowed the technique of using ink by his predecessors, i.e. emphasizing the variety of dryness, wetness, thickness, slightness and intentional blank in strokes. On the basis of that, Wang Duo emphasized the variety of ink and he added more water to ink and made a sharp contrast between shades of ink to create the effect of "ink penetrability." He even made dots connected with each other by using "ink penetrability" to form a patch. Therefore, he create new contrast representations."Ink penetrability" can be regarded as a unique contribution by Wang Duo to the ink techniques of Chinese calligraphy.The Significance of the ResearchThe thesis analyzed the theoretical and social background for Wang Duo’s concept of "ink penetrability" which including ink freehand painting, inscriptions and application of new writing materials. The influence of these factors were objectively analyzed in forming "ink penetrability" by Wang Duo. The exploratory value was found through analyzing the factors contributed to the new invention of "ink penetrability" by Wang Duo.In the history of Chinese calligraphy, Wang Duo is an important figure at the end of Ming dynasty and the beginning of Qing dynasty. The followers were greatly influenced by his invention. His "ink penetrability" and its application enriched the ink techniques and push the field ahead.The thesis aimed to analyze Wang Duo’s "ink penetrability" in an all-sided way and tried to explore its value and significance.