Chinese Calligraphy: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

精神 Spirit by H.H. **Dorje Chang Buddha III**

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Calligraphy Artworks

Chinese calligraphy has transcended its role as a mere communication tool and has become an art form highly esteemed even in an era dominated by ballpoint pens and computers. No longer limited to intellectuals and officials, calligraphy is now practiced by professional artisans and enthusiastic amateurs. Calligraphers employ brushes to beautifully ink five distinct styles of script: ‘seal’, ‘official’, ‘cursive’, ‘running’, and ‘regular’. While calligraphy can be found on various surfaces, even adorning the rocky walls of cliffs, it is most commonly seen on letters, scrolls, literary works, and fan coverings.

Throughout history, the Chinese have believed that no art form or field of study can truly reflect a person’s moral character and knowledge as effectively as calligraphy. The accomplishments or creations in other arts or fields often overshadow one’s shortcomings in knowledge and character. However, calligraphy stands apart from this convention. It functions as a three-dimensional mirror, projecting the depth of knowledge, moral character, and mental strength with each brushstroke. There is no hiding or concealing these qualities. When examining an individual’s ordinary handwriting of Chinese characters, one can often discern their level of education. This is even more evident when examining their calligraphy.

In the annals of history, there is no account of an unknowledgeable person making significant contributions to calligraphy. Profound and extensive knowledge does not necessarily guarantee expertise in calligraphy. However, great calligraphers possess both knowledge and skillful brushwork. Without exception, the renowned calligraphers of past generations were literary masters who possessed deep knowledge. Notable examples include Xizhi Wang, Su Huai, Shaoji He, Huaiguan Zhang, Fei Yue, and in more recent times, Youren Yu. Each of them was an erudite literary figure and exemplar of virtue.

Knowledge serves as the pillar and cornerstone of calligraphy, while moral character is reflected in the style and allure of the art form. Thus, calligraphy demands a combination of knowledge and moral character.

When one appreciate the calligraphy of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, one can understand that why chinese believe that calligraphy combines one’s knowledge, moral character and mental strength .The calligraphy of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu Holiest Tathagata is not bound by worldly conventions and is devoid of unnecessary flamboyance. It is highly refined and based upon ingenious artistic conception. His Holiness’s strokes are sometimes written in a swift curling style.
However, in an instant, His Holiness can express the innocent and natural charm of a child. There is wonder in even common strokes. His calligraphy is naturally graceful, exhibiting depth and brilliance. The calligraphy of His Holiness contains an invisible force that makes the characters seem much grander than they appear on a superficial level. His strokes look harmoniously smooth and unbroken. The Chinese characters may appear strong and vigorous, like a soaring dragon or mighty tiger. They may appear clear and gently elegant, like slowly floating clouds, cranes flying among pine trees, or dancing swans. They may appear simple and unadorned, like the free heart of a child. They are gracefully understated and completely devoid of any mundane quality. The calligraphy of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha IlI is natural in quality and resonates with the true nature of the universe. A deep power underlies His Holiness’s strokes.

Crane Dance by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III at 1990

Red-crowned cranes tend not to build ness for themselves since they often stay in various places. When quiet, they frequently engage in meditational observation. When in motion, they frequently dance. Their nature is noble, pure, elegant and simple. They develop their virtue, are not attached to a specific abode, and take care of themselves so as to enjoy their natural lifespan. That is why since ancient times they have been praised for their longevity.

The ability of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III to reach such great heights in calligraphy is completely due to His Holiness’s vast knowledge and profound talents. Of course, His Holiness is extremely adept at learning from the styles of others since this is a simple matter for a Buddha. For example, even in the initial stage of learning calligraphy, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III had solid skills in the traditional cursive style of writing and also had extensive learning.

Calligraphy : A Qi jue poem (Thin Gold Cursive Style of Calligraphy)

Above is a qi jue poem written by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha IIIat 1982. A qi jue poem is a four-line poem with seven characters to a line and a strict tonal pattern and rhyme scheme. The phonetic reading of the poem is as follows: “hua gong ri yue li yang tian, xi cheng xi feng liu yue xian, gu peng lai cong ba sheng wang, shi zhi shu qi yi dong can.” One can see that this work has surpassed all traces of the mundane and has transcended all earthly impurities. Its style is lofty and pure.
When that poem was written, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was living in the seclusion of an ancient temple. His Holiness used his extraordinary realization to express his thoughts and feelings. The first line expresses that although His Holiness lived alone and secluded in the room of a temple, He governed the universe and bestowed blessings upon living beings.
The next line, “xi cheng xi feng liu yue xian,” conveys the scene that during the idle month of June H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III bathed in the Buddha-state of coolness while under the scorching sun. His Holiness was free of all worldly cares and attachments, and his body merged with the universe. When friends came, His Holiness heard the horns of their cars, but He had already transcended the world, residing in quietude and non-action. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III kept no notion of the date, and His Holiness’s mind did not abide in anything whatsoever. The people of the world were ignorantly attached to the changing seasons and came in their cars and horses to inform H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III that summer had long passed and the winter was about to end. The ancient Buddha acknowledged this and smiled.

In recent years, there are works of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III that have been written in the cursive mode of calligraphy, showing a flowing and unobstructed style, and expressing even more than before the charm of this writing technique. For example, the work Fei Cui Jade expresses the spirit of an immortal or Buddha, thoroughly transcending the three worlds of reincarnation, standing proudly above the five elements of the universe. It is truly calligraphy beyond the category of calligraphy, expressing a feeling that incorporates the whole universe.

Fei Cui Jade: Created with an unfettered hand and unattached mind, it has the appearance of a celestial writing accomplished with a childlike mind and steady strokes of the brush.

His Holiness’s calligraphy of the Chinese characters lang ga luo bu (Treasure of Heaven) excels the writing of calligraphers throughout history. It transcends all traces of worldliness. It expresses deep strength, like that which can break jade. The style of another calligraphic work called wu wo nai da cheng (No-Self Is Great Accomplishment), conveys the firmness and simplicity of steel and the vigor of a sharp knife. However, these same characters also contain delicate beauty. That calligraphic style truly surpasses styles of the past and present.

Another calligraphic style of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is revealed in the writing of the Chinese characters xiao bu dian (Tiny). Such calligraphy shows the childlike innocence of a very old man, and its arrangement expresses the utmost ease and lack of rigid constraints. It is high-class calligraphy that does not even seem to be calligraphy. It is so elegant and refined that it completely transcends the mundane.

Beholding the character sheng (holy) written by His Holiness, one can see that it simultaneously embodies both the softness of ribbons and the inner-firmness of steel. Its inner beauty flows to the surface. Another example is the character fo, which means Buddha. The writing of that character demonstrates that His Holiness has truly attained the summit of calligraphic skills that the ancients extolled in the old saying, “the old pine branch cannot be weighed down by heavy snow; the might of a brush will lift a thousand-pound bronze cauldron.”

The Chinese character “sheng,” which means “holy.”

The Chinese character “fo,” which means “Buddha.”

In fact, the calligraphy of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has a deep foundation and an internal richness. It embodies the manifold sensations that one could possibly experience in one lifetime. The essence of all things in the universe converges at the tip of His Holiness’s brush. With such a transcendent state of realization, the myriad things of the universe are in the palm of this Buddha. The calligraphy of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is like a treasury. It can be vigorous, smooth, or naturally beautiful. His Holiness incorporates the best techniques of all of the schools of calligraphy. No words can really describe this!
His Holiness’s calligraphic skills have reached the highest degree of proficiency and naturalness that only a Buddha could reach!