A Study On Cursive Script’s Theory Of Liu Xizai

Liu Xizai is a well-known literary critic of late Qing dynasty whose theory of calligraphy can be found in Shugai and Youyiyueyan. And the former one is the conclusion of the aesthetics of Chinese classical calligraphy. He proposed a relatively systematic theory of the chirography in Shugai in which Chinese cursive script was discussed at the greatest length. The high perspicacities in the contexts still shine today. In the final stage of the aesthetics of the classical Chinese calligraphy, he can make a comprehensive survey of the whole calligraphy history and the calligraphy theories in the past dynasties. Besides, he had a good knowledge of the principles of arts as well as philosophy and can approach a problem comprehensively and historically and ponder a problem in a simple and dialectical view. Thus his conclusion is quite deep and objective. A lot of his expositions about cursive script still apply to the current admiration and creations. Nowadays, in terms of cursive script, some people only emphasize the elaboration of "meaning" but ignore the training of "techniques", without managing the writing brush and ink well, going against" the combination of spirit and techniques" proposed by Liu Xizai. He said in Shugai,"In the world of calligraphy, neither the saint of seal character nor the saint of official script exist. But there is the saint of cursive script." This illustrates that cursive script attract the most emphasis on one hand. On the other hand, it shows that cursive script is the most difficult to master. Who can reach such a perfection without awareness both mentally and intelligently. And this perfection is exactly the lifelong pursuit of cursive script learners. Generations of masters and theoreticians of cursive script spare themselves for this. Liu Xizai is exactly the excellent.