试论汉字和书法艺术在中国传统艺术中的核心地位

On the Central Role of Chinese Characters and the Art of Calligraphy in China's Traditional Arts

汉字及其书法艺术是中国传统艺术的基础,传统艺术中诗、画、雕塑、园林等许多门类的艺术均与其密切相关,且相互照应,互为充足条件。汉字及其书法艺术之所以能成为中国传统艺术的核心,乃是因为两方面的原因:其一是表意汉字具备的"意象"特征。每一个汉字都表达了一个意象,一组组汉字则构成意象母题,这些意象母题或成为其他艺术争相表现的题材,或者为汉字和书法外的其他艺术提供了很好的借鉴,成为代代相传、永不枯竭的艺术源泉;其二,书法艺术对用笔、笔势、结体、章法的刻意追求,即所谓线条艺术的功力,是确保书法艺术成为其他艺术的基础,使其具备中国传统艺术核心地位的技术条件。

Chinese characters and the art of calligraphy are the foundation of China＇s traditional arts. Such categories in traditional arts as poetry, painting,sculpture, garden arts,etc. are not only closely connected with but also interdependent on Chinese characters and the art of calligraphy. There are two rea-sons for Chinese characters and the art of calligraphy taking the central role of China^ traditional arts. Firstly, ideographic Chinese characters take on the feature of imago, for almost every Chinese character expresses one image,and a group of characters constitute the matrix of imago. The matrix of imago be-comes the manifestation or the fountain of other categories of arts through generations. Secondly,the art of calligraphy intentionally pursues the training of lines art including the brushwork, writing style, struc-ture and presentation. Therefore,the linear skill ensures that the art of calligraphy is the foundation of other art categories and plays a key role in China＇s traditional arts.