Photo: Lu Yongliang, Editor: Snow Wolf Alien
In exploring the question of which is more difficult between Chinese painting and calligraphy, we can't help but look back to history and look for people who have achieved outstanding achievements in both fields. Such as Su Dongpo and Mi Fu of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Mengfu of the Yuan Dynasty, Dong Qichang of the Ming Dynasty, and Wu Changshuo of the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, their calligraphy and painting works are not only superb, but also have a profound impact on later generations. Their works seem to tell us that Chinese painting and calligraphy are in common to a certain extent, just like the concept of "calligraphy and painting have the same origin", and how they transformed these flat Chinese characters into works of art with depth and three-dimensionality.
From today's scientific perspective, the ancients seem to have mastered the transformation of two and three dimensions, skillfully upgrading the flat Chinese characters, and entering the three-dimensional stage under the pen of the ancients, showing their wisdom and talent with ease. Let it jump out on the two-dimensional plane, vividly presenting a three-dimensional sense of three. This unique language art not only reflects their deep understanding of the language, but also demonstrates their remarkable creativity and imagination. In their writings, Chinese characters are no longer just symbols, but become vivid, as if they have been injected into the soul.
When we try to separate painting and calligraphy, it is not difficult for us to find that the aesthetic expertise and technical knowledge involved in painting often need to be mastered through systematic study and practice. However, the charm of calligraphy lies in the fact that there is no fixed aesthetic definition, and each calligrapher can express it according to his own understanding and emotion, which also makes it possible for no great calligrapher from ancient times to the present day to completely escape the evaluation of others.
With the increasing popularity of AI, the usefulness of calligraphy is likely to disappear. The once-preached doctrine that "getting started is easy, it's hard to get out" may no longer apply. Today's calligraphy is not a representative of cultural accomplishment, social status, and mind-mindedness. It is more of an act of entertainment and decoration that seems to have lost its meaning in comparison with painting.
Whether it's painting or calligraphy, they are different forms of art, each with its own unique characteristics. In the pursuit of art, we should respect each form and appreciate their respective charms, rather than deliberately comparing who is more difficult and who is better.