https://collections.si.edu/search/detail/edanmdm:fsg_F1982.2?q=Calligraphy%2C+Chinese&record=59&hlterm=Calligraphy%2C%2BChinese&inline=tru
Sutra of the Great Demise (Mahaparinirvana Sutra) in standard script
MEDIUM: Ink on paper. H x W ( 20.9 x 380.3 cm (8 1/4 x 149 3/4 in). Type: Chinese Calligraphy. Origin: Dunhuang, Gansu province, China. Date: 581-618 Years Period: Sui dynasty. The full text contains “374967” characters. “Nirvana Sutra” is one of the important categories of Buddhist classics. This one is just one of them with about 10,000 words.
This work has attracted my attention because I have also studied calligraphy before, and I am very good at calligraphy. I remember that I wrote 100 words of work at the time. It took me 10 hours to finish it without eating. I can’t believe how the artist completed this 10,000-character work.
Chinese calligraphy has a history of more than 3,000 years and crystallizes Chinese ancestors’ wisdom and wisdom. It is a great treasure left by Chinese ancestors, and it is a unique art in China. Learning calligraphy is the process of learning to appreciate, discover, and create the beauty of Chinese art. Learning calligraphy can make a person more careful, patient, and easy to concentrate. This is because calligraphy is a very delicate activity. If you want to write handwriting well, you must be entirely focused, calmly, and carefully observe the character’s structure, and you must control your strokes with your brain, eyes, and hands. Over time, it can change a person’s psychological quality and develop patience and calm habit.
When you are writing, The heart can condense at one point. For example, if you are tired and annoyed by writing, this must be a state of confusion; maybe something has happened recently. It will reflect your mood. When your mood is not very good, or things are not going well. At this time, it is not necessary to insist on writing, put down the pen this time, and reflect on why you are “not quiet” to achieve “quietness.” So what is meditation? It is not necessary to write the words well but to observe after calm down. The method is to reflect on yourself, find your own problems, and adjust yourself.
The writing’s rhythm is precisely the communication between the heart and the hand, whether there is mutuality or not. The changes under the pen at this time are the most effective of the character. When There are very messy characters under the Brush, then your mind is also confused. When There is clean and smooth writing under the Brush, then your mood must be very comfortable. Small actions represent the big mood behind the back. Through these small actions, we can observe ourselves, complete perfect works, and learn patience.
Although this object is not related to the history of slavery, thank you for sharing something that sparks such a deep interest to you. I enjoyed reading about your object label and your thoughts about the significance of calligraphy. For many people, writing is an exercise of the freedom of expression. It can be very meditative and an artform The 3000+ year history of Chinese calligraphy is incredible, I really enjoyed learning so much more about it!