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行書 Best way to learn Semi Cursive script (Walking Script)

ever.arevalo.70_16919
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行書 Best way to learn Semi Cursive script (Walking Script)

Postby ever.arevalo.70_16919 » June 25th, 2014 9:00 pm

Is a 行書(HangSyu) dictionary the best way to learn the semi cursive? Can anyone recommend a thorough dictionary or book or method to learn how to write this way? I also have the exact same questions about 草書(CouSyu), the full-cursive. I am, however, giving Semi-Cursive priority. Iwould like to achieve a "Super-Expert" level.
Any advice?

Thank you
Best Wishes

ill_marketing_intern
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Re: 行書 Best way to learn Semi Cursive script (Walking Script

Postby ill_marketing_intern » June 25th, 2014 10:51 pm

Have you checked out works by 王羲之 (Wang Xizhi)? He's referred to as the Sage of Calligraphy (書聖).
Sorry I don't know much about calligraphy, but I found some youtube videos teaching the different styles in Chinese:
行書(HangSyu)
http://youtu.be/jjs7EKebf5Q
http://youtu.be/rr-IK7OMODU
http://youtu.be/VKDDb7iaWtM
草書(CouSyu)
http://youtu.be/Ij7hx8Cz9Lk
There's also a nice website by City University of Hong Kong talking about the different styles (in Chinese): http://www.cityu.edu.hk/lib/about/event ... ve_chi.htm

Olivia
Team CantoneseClass101.com

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ever.arevalo.70_16919
Been Around a Bit
Posts: 21
Joined: June 25th, 2014 8:31 pm

Re: 行書 Best way to learn Semi Cursive script (Walking Script

Postby ever.arevalo.70_16919 » June 25th, 2014 11:16 pm

Dear Ms. Olivia:
Thank you very much for such a quick reply. I really appreciate you taking the time.
These links are great! I know I might come off as a complete neophyte, but I've been held back by trying to figure out what is the best approach to achieving expert literacy. For example, I tried learning the 3000 most common characters in mandarin only to find out that to read a newspaper you need to the most common "2+ Character Words" and many "specialty-field" words. That is what prompted in me the search for the best way to reach "expert-reading-level." I should add, my original intent was to learn Cantonese, but a lack of resources specific to achieving "educated level" literacy, with English translation, is what forced to begin studying Mandarin.
Ms. Olivia may you please tell me the title of a thorough "How-to" book?

ill_marketing_intern
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Re: 行書 Best way to learn Semi Cursive script (Walking Script

Postby ill_marketing_intern » July 1st, 2014 9:12 pm

That's right, if you can focus in one "specialty field" that would be easier to build up the vocabularies from there. Say, if you are interested in learning about the terminologies of calligraphy
I found this nice Taiwanese page about Chinese calligraphy: http://163.20.160.14/~word/, you can even download practice sheets here: http://163.20.160.14/~word/modules/tad_uploader/
and here you can find the most commonly used characters in calligraphy (starting from upper right corner, and read downwards vertically): http://163.20.160.14/~word/modules/tadn ... hp?nsn=352

If you already learned the 3000 most common characters in mandarin (Simplified Chinese writing system), it should be easy for you to learn Traditional Chinese writing system.

If you're looking for "How-to" books, try to search for the subject's noun, and add 基礎 behind it. For example, 書法基礎 "basic calligraphy skills" could be a "How-to" book title or genre for learners.

Olivia
Team CantoneseClass101.com

ever.arevalo.70_16919
Been Around a Bit
Posts: 21
Joined: June 25th, 2014 8:31 pm

Re: 行書 Best way to learn Semi Cursive script (Walking Script

Postby ever.arevalo.70_16919 » July 2nd, 2014 4:47 am

Dear Ms. Olivia
You don't cease to amaze me with such rich learning resources. I apologize if I misrepresented my skill level when I mentioned learning the 3000 most common Mandarin characters. The truth is when I realized that I couldn't read compound-words I gave up that practice. I then set out on a quest to find for myself the most thorough way to learn Mandarin. I concluded that what i really wanted was advanced-literacy. I spent the better part of a year searching for the best way to learn how to read and also spent much of that time transcribing all the single-character entries from the Longman's Mandarin English Dictionary to flash cards. I had just finished compiling extensive Mandarin vocabulary banks, when I made a chance connection with Cantonese Class 101 that reinvigorated my interest and ability to learn my first-love, Cantonese. Before this,I thought the only way to Cantonese would be through an impenetrable wall of Mandarin. The Foreign Language Institue's course and the Pimsleur course are insulting to my intelligence. Too much "Beer this," "beer that."
This website has enabled me to simultaneously learn both languages.
Thank you

Ms. Olivia are there any larger Cantonese vocab lists online that i don't know of?


Truly yours

ill_marketing_intern
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Posts: 28
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Re: 行書 Best way to learn Semi Cursive script (Walking Script

Postby ill_marketing_intern » July 2nd, 2014 8:29 pm

We're glad to hear that your first-love is Cantonese, over Mandarin :D
We used Longman English Chinese dictionary (http://www.amazon.com/Longman-English-C ... 0582997666) in school, so you're on the right track!

Regarding Cantonese vocab lists, have you checked our core word list? (http://www.cantoneseclass101.com/canton ... coreX=2000) We understand that it's not perfect and probably missing some vocabularies that you are looking for. But indeed there aren't much materials like this available online.

Olivia
Team CantoneseClass101.com

ever.arevalo.70_16919
Been Around a Bit
Posts: 21
Joined: June 25th, 2014 8:31 pm

Re: 行書 Best way to learn Semi Cursive script (Walking Script

Postby ever.arevalo.70_16919 » July 3rd, 2014 3:14 am

Nice
Thank you Miss Olivia
You are my guiding light

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