Learn Chinese Calligraphy: Instructional Videos on Scribing the Standard Script (Vol. 1)

Book excerpt: The Learn Chinese Calligraphy series, divided into three parts, features Dr Kwok Kin Poon’s instructional videos on Chinese calligraphy, voiced over in English by KS Vincent Poon. The entire series, accompanied by worksheets and exercises, focuses on the fundamental techniques in scribing the standard, cursive, semi-cursive, and cursive scripts (楷草篆隸筆法). The three parts are: Instructional Videos on Scribing the Standard Script, Instructional Videos on Scribing the Cursive Script, and Instructional Videos on Scribing the Seal and Clerical Scripts. This ebook is the first of five volumes of Instructional Videos on Scribing the Standard Script, consisting of videos 1 to 5 of the 36 videos on scribing the standard script. The thesis of this volume is on holding the brush, selecting the brush, paper, ink, and inkstone, as well as introducing and demonstrating “The Eight Principles from Scribings Wing (The Eight Principles of Yong, 永字八法)”. There are five videos in this volume, with a total time of 34 min 53 sec. Kwok Kin Poon (潘國鍵, 1949- ) was born in Guangzhou, raised in Hong Kong, and now resides in Toronto. He graduated from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (BA, MPh, DipEd), the University of Hong Kong (MA, PhD), and OISE University of Toronto (MEd). He studied Chinese history under Professor YAN Gengwang (嚴耕望), Chinese calligraphy under his grandfather TSE Hay (謝熙), and Chinese painting under RONG Shushi (容漱石). Dr. POON is a seasoned teacher, historian, calligrapher, columnist, and has held exhibitions in Hong Kong and Canada. His publications include《北魏與蠕蠕關係研究》,《國鍵文集》, 《潘國鍵書法集》,《國鍵畫選》, 《孫過庭書譜白話對譯》, 《老子道德經正解並白話對譯 》 ,《寫在信仰荊途上》,《年在耳順》, etc.. He also co-authored with KS Vincent POON A Narrative on Calligraphy by Sun Guoting (英譯書譜), English Translation of Classical Chinese Calligraphy Masterpieces (英譯法書), and An English Translation and the Correct Interpretation of Laozi’s Tao Te Ching (英譯並正解老子道德經) Kwan Sheung Vincent Poon (潘君尚, 1979-) was born in Hong Kong and studied at Ying Wa College as well as the University of Toronto, where he completed his BSc, MSc and BEd degrees. Being the top undergraduate in Biochemistry, he is currently a teacher at the Toronto District School Board as well as a calligrapher and a translator. His passion for Chinese culture began at the age of six when he started studying Chinese calligraphy under his father Kwok Kin POON (潘國鍵, PhD). His books include A Narrative on Calligraphy by Sun Guoting (英譯書譜), English Translation of Classical Chinese Calligraphy Masterpieces (英譯法書), as well as An English Translation and the Correct Interpretation of Laozi’s Tao Te Ching (英譯並正解老子道德經).