Author Laura Wagner with one of her works of calligraphy.
在我看来，在欣赏艺术的西方人眼中，书法是忽略最多的那些艺术形式之一。很多外国人以为书法就是写字，然而，这种美观的艺术形式有许多复杂的方面。有悖于有的西方思想，书法不仅是“用宣纸写中文字”。
书法用四件工具：砚、墨、纸、笔。根据不同的情况，书法家灵活使用不同的工具，比如笔应该有多少墨、想用什么颜色的纸、笔应该用用哪种毫、墨是深或浅、手移动的速度怎么样、等等。无论标准是什么，每一个书法作品都有正文、题词、和图章三个部分。除了有这三个部分以外，每一个作品的内容和结构都有匹配的规则。书法还有四种常见的风格；篆书、隶书、楷书、和草书。书法家还可以创作自己的风格，比如皇帝宋徽宗的“瘦金体”。再加上，人们有时候用书法创作新语言或新书法风格，比如说“女书”或书法家徐冰的“方块字书法”；一种由中文书法的灵感所启发的英文书写方式。书法不但是艺术，而且可以体现历史和文化的改变，比如书法多个世纪以来的风格改变就是证明。
写好看的书法十分困难。姿势、呼吸，或者感觉心烦都可以影响最重要的书法特色：平衡。你只有许多年练习，才能有李白或苏轼的水平。虽然一个懵懂的人一看张旭（亦称“颠张”）的书法就觉得很难看，然而，为了写出那么漂亮的笔划，需要有快且沉着的手。如果我想有王羲之的完美书法水平的话，尽管已经有三年多的经验，我还要好多年练习，才能达到那种完美水平。
我毕业时间快到了，最近思考在西华盛顿大学的这些记忆，特别是中文专业课程，显而易见我最宝贵的专业课程记忆是学书法历史和艺术。我不仅学到了书法怎么写、书法的历史，还有书法教我的很多难能可贵的经验和教训。
为了自我爱护，人们要会忙里偷闲 。揪心的时候，休息紧张的身体，大喘气。出神入化几乎做不到，全力以赴就好了，欣赏自己的苦功，重视短但宝贵的时间。最后，我觉得有的时候，书法之类的东西可能看起来很简单，懵懂的人以为只是中文字被写在宣纸上而已，然而，书法的确有其隐秘复杂性。
Translation
In my opinion, calligraphy is one of the most neglected art forms among westerners who appreciate art. Many foreigners think calligraphy is just writing, but on the contrary, this beautiful art has many complex aspects. Contrary to some western points of view, it is not just “words that have been written on paper”.
Calligraphy involves 4 main instrument: stone (砚）, paper（纸）, ink（墨）, and brush（笔）. Depending on the situation, these four tools change to best suit the goals of the calligrapher; how much ink the brush should have, what color paper to use, how dark or light the ink should be, how fast is the movement of the hand, etc. Regardless of personal style, every single calligraphy composition has 3 parts: main text（正文）, inscription（题词）, and a seal stamp （图章/章）. In addition to having these three parts, each part’s content and composition have rules pertaining to their use. There are also four main calligraphy scripts: Seal script （篆书）, clerical script （隶书）, regular script (楷书), and cursive script （草书）. Calligraphers can also create their own style, such as Emperor Huizong’s “Slender Gold” style. In addition, people sometimes use calligraphy to create new languages or new ways of writing, such as “Nüshu” or Calligrapher Xu Bing’s “Square Word Calligraphy“; a method to write English that is inspired by Chinese calligraphy. Not only is calligraphy an art form, but it can reflect historical or societal changes, and the calligraphy style changes through several centuries proves this point.
Making good looking calligraphy is an extremely difficult task. Posture, breath, or getting distracted can all influence the most important calligraphy feature: balance. It takes many years of practice to reach the level of calligraphers like Li Bai (李白) or Su Shi (苏轼). Although some might see the calligraphy of Zhang Xu (张旭), otherwise known as “Crazy Zhang”, and think it is ugly calligraphy, in order to have such beautiful strokes, one must have a fast, steady hand. If I wanted to have Wang Xizhi’s (王羲之) perfectly beautiful calligraphy skills, in spite of me already having more than two years of experience, I would have to practice for many more years to finally attain that level of “perfectly beautiful” skill.
Since my graduation rapidly approaches, I’ve recently been reflecting back on my memories as a WWU student, especially those in the Chinese major courses. It goes without saying that one of my most treasured memories in Chinese major courses was learning about calligraphy’s history and art. Not only did I learn how to write calligraphy and its history, but calligraphy also taught me many rare and precious lessons.
In order to love and care for oneself, one must find time in their busy life for relaxation. When one is very anxious, they must relax their tense body, and take a big breath. Achieving perfection is nearly impossible, so giving an all out effort is good enough; one should enjoy their effort, and value their short and precious time. Finally, sometimes calligraphy and such things may appear simple; those with a limited outlook or experience mistakenly think it is merely Chinese words that have been written on paper, but on the contrary, they have hidden complexities.
Laura’s Calligraphy Gallery | 王劳拉的书法美术馆
女书书法、水彩画蝴蝶 | Nüshu Calligraphy & Chinese Watercolor Butterfly
这是我第一次试着写女书文字。只有两个字，“女书”，然而用笔尖跟篆书的技巧稳定地写曲线的字非常难。我很惊讶地发现画漂亮且多彩的蝴蝶跟写两个女书字差不多一样困难。最后，我自己写女书的全过程使我更加尊重女书写作和江永女人。
决定画一只蝴蝶的原因是有的女书和结拜姐妹文化特点跟蝴蝶的中国象征主义有交叉；例如自由、爱心、期望、新生、和长寿等等。
This is the first time I have tried to write Nüshu characters. It was only two words, “女书”, but having to steadily write the curved letters with only the tip of a calligraphy brush and while using seal script technique was still difficult. Surprisingly, trying to paint a beautiful, colorful butterfly was about as challenging as writing two decent looking Nüshu characters. In the end, whole process of trying to write Nüshu myself made me respect Nüshu writings and Jiangyong women even more.
The reason for painting a butterfly is that some characteristics from Nüshu and sworn sisterhood culture intersect with some Chinese symbolism for the butterfly; freedom, love, hope, rebirth, longevity, among other things.
The calligraphy reads “女书“ from left to right, so you can compare the style to the regular style inscription below
山林多奇采水彩画 | “How Resplendent are the Forested Mountains” Watercolor Painting
王劳拉（郑月）的水彩画作文，用《子夜四时歌》摘录；“山林夺妻财”。这是我第一次画彩画作文。我在陈淑光老师的水墨画讲习班学怎么画。
Laura‘s (郑月）Chinese Watercolor Painting. I used an excerpt from the Midnight Songs Poetry; “How resplendent are the forested mountains”. This is my first time making a Chinese watercolor composition. I learned how at Professor Shuguang Chen’s Watercolor Painting Workshop.
2023春节书法 / 2023 Lunar New Year Calligraphy
“吉兔”
我2023年春节写完了作文。一张在网上的兔子Stock照片是这个兔子的蓝本。兔子里说“吉兔”。最合适的形容词可能有两个音节，可是这个办法有更多的平衡。
Main text: lucky or propitious rabbit
I wrote this composition on Lunar New Year 2023. I based the rabbit off a stock image calligraphy rabbit I found online. Inside the bunny it says “lucky rabbit”. A more fitting adjective may have had two syllables, but this method has more balance.
地球日书法 / Earth Day Calligraphy
唐朝的李白：”望庐山瀑布”
题词：”地球日劳拉北林海“
正文：”日照香炉生紫烟，遥看瀑布挂前川，飞流直下三千尺，疑是银河落九天.“
Poet Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty: “Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu”, written by Laura Wagner
Sunlight shining on “Incense Burner Peak” (Mount Xianghu) emits a violet smoke.
From a distance, I watch this waterfall like a river hung before me.
The flying waters drop 3000 feet straight down.
I mistook it for the Milky Way fallen from the highest heaven.
This is a calligraphy I wrote in April of 2022. My job was the ASWWU VP for Sustainability. Last year I led and managed the planning for a whole week of celebrations of Earth Day at Western Washington University. Our theme was to center BIPOC experiences with the environment.
The first Earth Day event was a keynote speaker event on Monday where Indigenous people came to speak about their relationship with the environment. One of the esteemed guest groups was Children of the Setting Sun Productions. My coworker, Naira, and I gave them gifts to thank them for coming to Western Washington University to speak, in addition to compensating them. I wrote them this calligraphy as a gift. Professor Wu helped me choose this poem about nature and it took 9 hours of writing before finally having the finished product.
纪念阿尼哥的书法 / Calligraphy Commemorating Anika
正文：“阿尼哥”
题词: 辛丑年，辛丑年春，“心肝”- 她的外号.
我2021年3月写完了。我的童年猫子突然越来越病，然后死亡了。她有舒服且幸福的生活，还有家人和我都爱她。我把这篇书法作品当成办法抬举她的生命。作文很简单，有她名字的声发音；阿尼哥。我四次写了名字，每一次是篆书，隶书，楷书，和草书。一个写书法正文的规则是“别写名字”，可是我打破规则追思曩昔。
Main text: “Anika”. Inscriptions include: 2021, Spring of 2021, “Sweetheart”- her nickname
I made this in March 2021. My childhood cat suddenly grew very sick and passed away. She had a happy, comfortable life and we loved her. I consider this calligraphy work a way to honor her life. The piece is her name “Anika” sound translated into Chinese and written in the four main Chinese scripts: seal, cursive, regular, and running script. In official calligraphy, one is not supposed to write names as calligraphy in the main text, but I broke the rules to memorialize her.
父亲节礼物 / Father’s Day Gift
正文：论语：“温故而知新，可以为师矣”
题词: 爸爸庚子郑月父亲节快乐
我爸爸好几个年是数学老师，所以我选了写这篇论语诗歌送给他；很合适他的职业，还适合数学和历史的爱。用隶书写爸爸的礼物的原意是它有几何结构，使爸爸感觉愉快的。我爸爸挂了作品在墙上。
Main Text: From The Analects- “To review the old and learn the new is to learn the past and understand the future”
Inscription: “Father (who it is for), 2020, Zheng Yue, Happy Father’s Day.”
My dad has been a math teacher for many years, so I chose this father’s day gift and analects quote because it fits his profession and love for math and history very well. The reason I chose clerical script to write my dad’s gift was because it has a geometric structure and would make my dad feel content. He hung this composition on his wall.
第一部作品 / My 1st Calligraphy Work
正文：论语-”学而不思则罔, 思而不学则殆“
题词: 郑月庚子年（2020）春北林海。
2020年我第一次写很大的书法作品。我妈妈挂了作品在墙上。这是篆书。你们看到我还没有图章。邢老师授奖书法优异奖给我，使我那么骄傲！我享受看这篇作品，让我记得很多中文专业课程其中最喜欢的中文课（书法课）之一。而且，提醒我自己进步那么大。
From the Analects: ”Learning without thought is labor lost, thought without learning is dangerous.“ Inscription: Zheng Yue, 2020, spring, Bellingham
My first time writing a large calligraphy piece in 2020. My mom hung it on the wall at her house. This is seal script. You can see I didn’t have a seal stamp yet. It won a calligraphy award from Janet Xing! I was very proud. I really enjoy looking at this piece. It makes me remember one of my favorite classes among all the Chinese major courses (calligraphy). Furthermore, it reminds me how far I have come.
Laura Wagner
Laura is a 5th year 2023 graduating double major of Environmental Science and Chinese Language and Culture. She is also the 2023 Outstanding Graduating Senior in Chinese Language and Culture. On the one hand, Laura really enjoys the WWU community and student opportunities, so she doesn’t want to go. But on the other, she is excited yet nervous to start post-grad life. Some of her passions include Chinese calligraphy, cooking, outdoor recreating, swimming, learning about equity and justice issues, and dressing up (in the author picture, she wears a vintage Western (cowboy) inspired outfit for graduation pictures).
As a story editor, she hopes you enjoy Mirror Magazine and regards it as her final undergrad “passion project”.