The following text is Han Fu, a style of poetry popular during the Han dynasty. It is basically praising the elegance of Li style script, which is the transitional script between ancient and modern script. The origin of Li is the simplification of writing through changes in medium brought on by a shift in the demographic of writers from royal scribes to common scribes. This shift is correlated with a great increase in the amount of people writing. This poem is written after Li shu has become mainstream and ceased to be looked down as a corruption.
Cheng Gongsui: Li Style
Huangjie created writing
from the objects of his thoughts
he looked at those bird tracks
and the tracks became characters
How brilliantly writing manifested
the writings passing down
containing the way and virtue
encompassing the ten thousand things
Everyday writing and records
was the job of scribes and clerks
time changed and the craft was simplified
marking a distinction between old and new
Insect script was already complex
when cursive disguised it
but as for the golden mean
none of them fits like Li
The tools of li are like carpenters tools
simple and easy to use:
In following change and moving easily
there is also tension and relaxation
hold the brush, let go of the ink,
carefully guard the tip of the brush.
Brilliant and glowing, rising and pressing down
shape and style, lifting up and sinking down
connected like a flower to its fragrance
space opens up as characters spread out
Bright like the shining expanse of heaven
in luxuriant embroidery you will find this standard
You may lightly stroke
and gently raise the brush
or you may slowly press down
and rapidly arouse the brush
pulling horizontal, pulling vertical
left leads and right coils
long swells lead to lush strokes
and minute movements like hovering mist
This skill is difficult to transmit
those who are good are few
hand and heart must work as one
and the heart must know its purpose
With subtle movements of the fingers
and gentle rising of the wrist
grasp the white silk
dye it black with writing
The red bamboo shaft becomes lightning
rain falls and hail scatters
dots rest, flip over, and rise up
pulling down in peaceful domination
A great diverse web
unraveling all kinds of colors
that shine forth and then are veiled
in extraordinary smoke
how vast and great!
and how playful it is to write so intricately
This practice is patterned after the luxuriant way of the Zhou
and expresses the brilliance of Yu
Ba fen and seal script,
each has its own beauty and technique
divide white with flowing black
and it is like scattered chess pieces or stars in the sky
heads lift up and tails curl
vertical strokes reign in irregular strokes
this romance produces a style
like the careful stitching of a suit
Some styles are like coiled dragons roaming,
they wriggle and twist in the sky
and phoenixes soaring up above
about to fly away on strong wings
some are birds of prey about to strike
this style presses down with forceful strength
and then, like a fine steed
gallops away
freely
boldly
yet always on the road
If you look up and gaze at it from afar
its lush appearance is like high clouds and rising mist
wandering smoke continuous with clouds
If you look down and inspect it
its beauty is like a cool breeze on rushing water
and in the ripples patterns form
For cascading forms to manifest style
you must have a model and a standard
the shape and movement are hard to explain
so I roughly bring up the cardinal points.
