write me, a photo from Shaanxi, Centre

Photographer's Note

According to legend, Chinese characters were invented under the legendary Yellow Emperor by a bureaucrat
inspired by his study of the animals of the world, the landscape of the earth and the stars in the sky.

The earliest confirmed evidence of the Chinese script discovered is the body of inscriptions on oracle bones from the late Shang dynasty (c. 1200–1050 BC). In recent decades, however, a series of inscribed graphs and pictures have been found at Neolithic sites in China, that might push back the purported beginnings of Chinese writing by thousands of years.

Western alphabets might be more practical in the end, but Chinese script is so much more beautiful. The oldest characters in today's Chinese writing system have remained virtually unchanged for centuries.

While in the west writing by hand is slowly becoming a relic of the past, being used for quick notes, like shopping lists, in China the art of calligraphy is still very much alive.

The Chinese have developped a wonderful language with an amazing writing system, and they know it.

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This picture shows a calligraphy session on a rather busy street, not far from Xian train station. A moment of peace and meditation in the midst of a most hectic environment.

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song title reference: Aerosmith

jean113, lousat, pajaran, bukitgolfb301, Wanda1, worldcitizen, jhm, ourania trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

jean113 (27639) 2016-01-31 6:12

Hello Benny,just a hand with a brush but the symbols tell it all.
A lovely composition with an interesting note.
Regards Jean.

Sergiom (117241) 2016-01-31 6:52

Bonjour Benny,

J'apprécie beaucoup le talent de ces gens. Comme la calligraphie est un art très prisé dans cette partie du monde, je comprends bien ton intérêt pour la chose.

Amicalement

Serge

lousat (138669) 2016-01-31 9:12

Hi Benny,original and interesting post about the chinese characters,the pic is beautiful,so sharp and well exposed,and the note too are perfect,not long and interesting too,i like it! Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2016-01-31 18:44

Hi Bonjour dear Benny

Very interesting image and note, some essense of reporturge and documentation sense. Ya I can understand your intention and I can understand the meaning of writing too. Good posting!

All the best and have a good day! Takero

Wanda1 (15142) 2016-01-31 21:25

Hi Benny,
Your framing really focuses in our attention on this beautiful art form, and the way in which it is executed. I am glad that it is still so much a part of their culture and is preserved, I feel that more traditional crafts and art forms should be preserved in our modern world, but many are dying out.
Regards
Wanda

worldcitizen (15960) 2016-02-01 13:34

Hello Benny,
This photo reminds me of a similar one I took many years ago in Japan. A friend of mine took me to a calligraphy school where I practiced writing some characters, and then I took a photo with my work. :-) I like this partial view of the writing, with the hand and brush included. The red stripe adds a nice bit up color to compliment the white paper and black ink.

abmdsudi (95869) 2016-02-01 17:42

Hi Benny
The subject - all about close up and attention to detail, is a fine art of calligraphy writing taken from a super viewpoint, fully filled by such fantastic splash of colors and contrast. It's the type of thing you'd see in China, and human interaction is vital there to keep the eye into perspective. A very accomplished image, Well done. Congrats
Best wishes

jhm (211734) 2016-02-02 4:28

Dag Benny,

Ik heb zelf in mijn leven nogal wat kalligrafie geschreven, maar Chinees is boven mijn petje.
De man lijkt mij een kunstenaar te zijn.
U man de foto mooi van uit de hoogte.
Goede fotografie, bedankt.

Prettige dag verder,
John

ourania (51103) 2016-02-03 8:38

Hello Benny,
I heard a scholar on the radio the other day claiming that the calligraphy of Far Eastern languages also teaches the people who practice it to think in deeper and more elaborate ways. (He also said that the intricate but wise system of accents in the Greek language should not have been abolished in modern Greek.)
I like very much the simple, dynamic and well balanced way in which you composed this picture. It's a lovely graphic illustration of this fascinating written code. The scene conveys movement, intimacy and concentration. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely evening,
Ourania

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2016-02-04 2:14

loved the diagonal compo here... would have looked great in b&w as well ;) ...

cheers

krkt

GyurMaster (24672) 2016-02-07 1:07

Hello Benny,

Thank you for the detailed description, I have learned something new. Good composition as well.

Best Regards,
György

Tue (91648) 2016-02-12 12:37

Hallo Benny,
Prachtige close-up van deze Chinese karakters. De hand en penseel zijn een goede toevoeging aan de foto. De rode ondergrond voegt wat extra kleur toe. Goede compositie.
Lars