The "Orchid Pavilion Preface" is obviously the "first line of the world", why do some people say that it is not worth studying?

As we all know, there are many versions of the Orchid Pavilion Preface, such as: Kaihuang Ben, Shenlong Ben, Yu Shi Nan Ben, Chu Sui Liang Ben, Jade Pillow Ben, Ying Shang Ben, and Dingwu Ben. There are two series that are now circulating, facsimiles and engravings.

The facsimiles are mainly based on Feng Chengsu's double-hook Tuocheng "Shenlong Ben"; the engravings are mainly based on the "Dingwu Ben" found in Zhengding, Hebei during the Northern Song Dynasty.

"Orchid Pavilion Preface" has a distinct and unique artistic style, its book style is elegant and dignified, Han Yi Shenfei, warm as jade, not exciting, dashing and natural, with a variety of pens. However, it is such a classic that has been passed down through the ages, but some people think it is not worth studying! Is it because the Orchid Pavilion Prologue is not good? No artistic value? Of course not!

As the first line of books in the world, the position of "Orchid Pavilion Preface" in the history of Chinese calligraphy has not yet been shaken!

The reason why some people think that the "Orchid Pavilion Preface" is not worth studying, I think there are the following reasons for not being a layman: First, the artistic achievement of the "Orchid Pavilion Preface" is too high, resulting in a kind of inferiority complex, thinking that it is insurmountable. The graceful, noble and luxurious artistic conception of "Orchid Pavilion Preface" is like the charm of "the dragon jumping the heavenly gate, the tiger lying in the phoenix pavilion", which no one has yet matched. It is because the artistic achievements are too high, and later generations have invisibly produced an inexplicable psychological pressure in the process of learning and practicing, making them think that the "Orchid Pavilion Preface" is not worth studying. In fact, there is no need to have such an idea. In the Song Dynasty, Mi Fu was originally famous for copying the Orchid Pavilion Preface. His copy of the Orchid Pavilion Preface can almost reach the point of chaos. At that time, he was known as the "Second Of Wang Xi" by the world, which shows that Mi Fu's efforts in the "Orchid Pavilion Preface" are extraordinary! However, this also put Mi Fu in a troubled situation! Why? Because, no matter how good and how much it resembles Mi Fu, it is still Wang Xizhi's thing, not Mi Fu's thing! How can you be a family without your own artistic language and artistic style?

Therefore, after painful thinking and diligent experience, Mi Fu finally gathered the essence of his predecessors, and highlighted his personality, turned around 180 degrees and moved, jumped out of the "Orchid Pavilion Sequence" in surprise, and finally formed a style of rice characters that flowed through the ages. It is not difficult for us to see from Mi Fu's experience that it is only by entering the post and then posting it again; and then entering the post and then posting it again, only in this way can it be transformed repeatedly, and finally can we form our own unique artistic style.

Calligraphy is to be able to withstand loneliness, so when everyone is studying the "Orchid Pavilion Preface", they must boldly and deeply go to the practice, not to taste it, let alone have any ideological baggage. If you can draw some of the artistic characteristics of one of them from the "Orchid Pavilion Preface" and temper it, in time, it will completely become your own artistic style and form your own artistic characteristics.

Second, the ideological content of "Orchid Pavilion Preface" is humble and elegant, the artistic conception is profound, and the writing is concise and artistically appealing. Although it is an improvisational work, it shows a natural and free, lively and smooth atmosphere, flowing clouds and flowing water, as if it is a thousand miles straight into one breath, and it is magnificent! Therefore, some people feel that they are far from the Lanting Preface in terms of literary style, so they retreat, which is one of the elements that some people are reluctant to study the Lanting Preface. Because they can't write ancient and strange texts like the "Orchid Pavilion Preface" (of course, people who like to study may not be able to write, but their spirit of love of learning is very commendable!). ）。 Looking at the history of Chinese calligraphy, for example, yan Zhenqing's "Sacrifice nephew manuscript", which is known as the second line of the world, and Su Dongpo's "Cold Food Thesis", which is known as the third line of the world, its style and ideological content cannot be compared with the "Orchid Pavilion Preface".

Looking back at today's book world, there are many people who are known as "calligraphy masters" and "calligraphy masters", and as to whether they are worthy of the name, we still don't care. Looking at today's book world, the person with the highest artistic achievement is the winner of the "Lanting Award" or the "Lanting Lifetime Achievement Award". If you open the list of winners of the previous "Lanting Award", you will find that their status in today's book world is extremely high; their influence in today's book world is not small! However, when you look at their works, you will find that although these people have deep calligraphy skills and are familiar with the aesthetic rules of calligraphy, unfortunately, the content embodied in their works has almost no things of their own, either excerpting ancient poems, or copying some famous sayings and aphorisms, or famous records. Even if you have what you have written, it is also some ordinary, unsurpassed content, not to mention comparable to the "Orchid Pavilion Preface".

Some people have said that our current calligraphy achievements have surpassed those of the ancients, but we are embarrassed to say it ourselves. I really don't know where people who say such things get so much courage?! Is it too confident or does it feel too good? I don't know. As a calligrapher, you can't express your inner thoughts and feelings in pen and ink through the form of calligraphy, can you be considered a qualified calligrapher?! How can chest ink work?

As the old saying goes, "The booker is the booker." "The former book refers to the book of calligraphy; the latter refers to the book of reading. This means that in order to become a qualified writer (now called a calligrapher), you must first have a wealth of knowledge (or knowledge); if you want to have a wealth of knowledge (or knowledge), then the only way is to study diligently and study hard! "There is poetry and bookishness in the belly" is this truth. Compared with the calligraphers of ancient times, the biggest difference between today's calligraphers is the ideological connotation. As long as you usually read more, accumulate more, and practice more, I believe that one day you will surpass the ancients or predecessors.

Whether it is its calligraphy artistic achievements or its pleasant literary style, "Orchid Pavilion Preface" is worthy of our study and reference. Those who say that the Orchid Pavilion Preface is not worth studying are wrong and unacceptable.

Third, it is believed that there is no "Orchid Pavilion Preface" at all, or that the various versions of the "Orchid Pavilion Preface" are false and have been invented by later generations themselves. I do not agree with this view and have reservations. Those who hold this view will certainly not believe in the artistic and historical value of the Orchid Pavilion Preface. Therefore, this became the reason and excuse for their reluctance to study the Orchid Pavilion Preface.

Fourth, the individual's aesthetic standards and aesthetic consciousness are different. As the saying goes, "Turnip cabbage has its own love." "No matter how good the "Orchid Pavilion Preface" is, how worth learning and learning, it is not liked, even if the "Orchid Pavilion Preface" is a piece of gold, but in the eyes of some people it is a piece of coal.

For any of the above reasons, it cannot be a reason not to study the Orchid Pavilion Preface.

As a classic, "Orchid Pavilion Preface" has been loved by the majority of calligraphy lovers for thousands of years, which is enough to prove that it is worthy of the reputation of "the first line of books in the world"!

Friends, after reading this small article, what are your feelings? We welcome your valuable comments.