A Distinction Between Calligraphic Styles in the Late Later Han Dynasty as Shown in Practice Slips

Abstract

  Among the bamboo and wooden slips, there are “practice slips” that show signs of learning letters, words, and calligraphy. These slips clearly show how the copyists of the time learned to write. This paper analyzes the calligraphy of bamboo and wooden slips found in the late Later Han Dynasty, and tries to understand how the copyists of the time attempted to learn the letters and calligraphy, and to discuss their awareness of the classification of calligraphic styles as seen in the slips and the formulation of new commonly used calligraphic styles.

  The main copyists of the time were clerks deeply involved in the administration of documents, and they were expected to accurately master about 3,000 useful characters, write them in multiple calligraphic styles, and pay attention to the beauty of the characters. As shown in the practice slips of the late Later Han Dynasty, it can be seen that they were aiming to master multiple calligraphic styles and also used different calligraphic styles depending on the content. Also, since the new commonly used calligraphic styles found in the practice slips have calligraphic features in common with Shaanxi-type Zhenmuping and Dongpailou Houhan Jiandu Shuxinjian, it can be said that the formulation of the new commonly used calligraphic styles was considerably advanced. At the same time, some of them were also seen learning stroke and dot, indicating that they were aware of the artistic aspect of protecting typicality. Therefore, behind the formulation of new commonly used calligraphic styles, we can assume a normative awareness to consider them as a single calligraphic style and an aesthetic awareness to protect a certain type of typicality.

  Although it is difficult to discuss the formulation of new commonly used calligraphic styles only with the practice slips because of the significant material limitations of the slips, the results of this paper can be considered as supporting evidence for the formulation of new commonly used calligraphic styles.