Su Demao on Pre-requisites for Learning Running-Cursive Script 苏德茂：具备怎么的条件可以学行草

李白诗：月下独酌

Generally speaking, a basic pre-requisite is that one must have learned the regular script (kaishu). The regular script here refers to more than the model calligraphic works by Ouyang Xun, Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan. It is used in a broader sense to refer to the rubbings made from the Northern Stone Inscriptions, such as Zhang Menglong Tablet, Zheng Wengong Tablet, Wei Lingcang Tablet and that from the Southern Stone Inscriptions such as Cuan Longyan Tablet, as well as rubbings of clerical script (lishu) of Han dynasty, such as Ritual Vessels, Mount Fenglong Tablet, Cao Quan Tablet and Stone Gate, etc. It will be better if one has learned the basics of writing the running-regular script and has practiced on Chu Suiliang’s Classic of Secret Revelation (Yinfu Jing) in large words and Ni Kuan Zan, or Preface to Buddha’s Teaching Made by Pasting Together Words from Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy.

When we talk about pre-requisite or basics, we do not refer to the highest level of skills in the writing of regular script. (There are many people in Singapore practice Cao Quan for more than 20 years with no desire to go into running-cursive script; I have also come across people who spend their life time in writing stately the styles of Ouyang Xun and Yan Zhengqing.) What is required is that one must have mastered the basic brush techniques. It should be sufficient to select two or three of the above mentioned model works and practice on them for about two years. (It is better to practice under guidance of a teacher. However, there are many calligraphy teachers in Singapore prefer to let their students copy their own calligraphic work rather than guide the learners to practice on suitable model calligraphic works.)

I have also seen many people go straight into learning the running-cursive script without first acquiring the basic calligraphic techniques. These people just follow their teachers: they just write the way their teachers write, just copy their teachers’ work. Without first going through systematic training on basic brush techniques, and master the basic skills in writing the running-cursive script, one not only takes longer time to learn, but one also will not be able to achieve the result effectively.

As a general principle, one can start learning to write running-cursive script after two to three years of copying skills training. (Those who have been trained in writing clerical script, i.e. lishu, will have clear advantage in learning running-cursive script, regardless which model works they choose to practice.) However, those who have learned the correct copying techniques will have great advantage over those who just practice writing aimlessly.

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通常情况下，要具备已学过楷书的条件。这里是广义的楷书，非专指如欧、颜、柳的唐楷作品，诸如北碑张猛龙、郑文公、魏灵藏及南碑爨龙颜，还包括汉隶如礼器、封龙山、曹全、石门等碑刻。若有行楷的基础，如已临过褚遂良大字阴符经、倪宽赞或集王字圣教序，则更好。

所说具有一定条件或基础，并非对楷书的书写的书写已运用精熟。（如新加坡多有临曹全愈二十年者，但没有想写行草的渴求；我也见过写端庄之欧、颜者，终身不弃。）只要求掌握其基本笔法即可。正常上述碑帖选上二、三种，总计写约二年，则足矣。（有教师指导为好。新加坡多有书法教师，为数可观者多让学员临习教师写的字，而非指导写适合学员学习的法帖。）

没有书写基础，直接步入写行草书者，在新加坡我见过。他们常常跟着教师跑，教师些什么他们写什么，教师怎么写他们也怎么写。没有对基本笔法的系统训练，让他们掌握行草书的书写技巧，不但学习的时间要拉长，也难以收到相当的效果。

原则上，已有二、三年书写实践者（不管写过那种碑帖，无疑写过隶书的人，学习行草，底气会更足），都可以写行草书。只不过有临帖实践者，学习的优势要大大超过没有临帖，只是随便涂鸦者。

苏德茂

2010年10月15日