Structure of Chinese Characters
The strokes of each Chinese character are the building blocks of its structure. The character structures and the unique strokes written with a brush form a Chinese calligrapher’s unique style.
Traditional
aesthetic theory has valuated individual brush strokes according to four
qualities:
Bone:
It exemplifies strength in the strokes so it appears impossible to break
them.
Flesh:
A well-nourished quality in the strokes without self-indulgence or fatness.
Muscle:
The appearance of one stroke being connected to the next by invisible or
visible ligaments, and also between one character connected to the next.
Blood: A full texture in the ink which should resemble neither water nor sludge. Perfect density and shades of ink bring expression and life to Chinese calligraphy writings. (It's advisable to use authentic Chinese or Japanese ink for practicing Chinese brush calligraphy and painting. Indian ink or black paint will not generate similar expressions as compared to Chinese ink.)
This famous Chinese character ("forever") contains the major basic strokes and is chosen by most calligraphers for teaching. |
The founding principles of a character’s structure can be analyzed into the following characteristics:
Stableness
Strength
Unbreakable
Beauty
Artistic disposition of strokes and space