Quantify influence of brushwork and structure on the aesthetic quality of regular script Chinese characters

doi:10.3785/j.issn.1008-9497.2022.03.001

Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition)

2022, Vol. 49

Issue (3): 261-270 DOI: 10.3785/j.issn.1008-9497.2022.03.001

Mathematics and Computer Science

Quantify influence of brushwork and structure on the aesthetic quality of regular script Chinese characters

Ruimin LYU¹(

),Taojie ZHANG¹,Xu XI¹(

),Mengmeng WANG²,Lei MENG²,Kejun ZHANG³

^1.School of Artificial Intelligence and Computer，Jiangnan University，Wuxi 214122，Jiangsu Province，China
^2.The Design School of Jiangnan University，Wuxi 214122，Jiangsu Province，China
^3.College of Computer Science and Technology，Zhejiang University，Hangzhou 310027，China

Download:

HTML( 15 )

PDF(1262KB)
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)

Abstract

The influences of brushwork and structure on the aesthetic quality of Chinese characters is an important issue in eastern calligraphy culture and is also related to the aesthetic evaluation technology in the field of digital calligraphy. However, in the past, this issue was mainly discussed qualitatively, mostly based on personal aesthetic experience. This study proposed an experimental method to quantitatively study it, which combined technologies in several disciplines, such as spline curve modeling and aesthetic scales. Firstly, six representative regular scripts of 78 high-frequency characters were selected as raw materials, participants were recruited to mark the structural key points using a customized annotation software, and the character images after the "brushwork feature removal" operation were modeled using Bezier curve. Further, the strictly defined "structure unification" operation was applied to these character images. Therefore, three groups of stimuli were obtained and each contains 468 character images. Then, an aesthetic scale was designed, and participants were recruited to evaluate the preference and style of the three groups of stimuli. Each participant was randomly assigned to one of the three. Finally, statistical analysis on the evaluation data showed that the influence of brushwork on the style of regular script was much higher than that of structure, and the influence of brushwork on the preference was slightly higher than that of structure. However, the above finding is limited to the several classical regular scripts selected in the experiment, and "brushwork feature removal" and "structure unification" can not fully cover the scope of relevant concepts in previous classical theories. The study shows that the scientific method can be used to study the propositions in calligraphy theory.

Key words： brushwork structure calligraphy style experimental aesthetics empirical aesthetics

Received: 27 September 2020 Published: 24 May 2022

CLC:

TP 391

Corresponding Authors: Xu XI E-mail: 190748995@qq.com;2694564855@qq.com

	Service
	E-mail this article
	Add to my bookshelf
	Add to citation manager
	E-mail Alert
	RSS
	Articles by authors
	Ruimin LYU
	Taojie ZHANG
	Xu XI
	Mengmeng WANG
	Lei MENG
	Kejun ZHANG

Cite this article:

Ruimin LYU,Taojie ZHANG,Xu XI,Mengmeng WANG,Lei MENG,Kejun ZHANG. Quantify influence of brushwork and structure on the aesthetic quality of regular script Chinese characters. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2022, 49(3): 261-270.

URL:

https://www.zjujournals.com/sci/EN/Y2022/V49/I3/261

笔法与结构对楷书文字美学品质影响的量化研究

笔法与结构对文字观感的影响是中国书法文化的重要研究命题，也与数字书法领域审美评价技术相关联。但以往对该命题主要为定性讨论。本文结合计算机样条曲线及审美量表等技术，设计了一种实验方法对其进行量化研究。首先，选取78个高频字的6种有代表性的楷书体文字作为样品，自编软件并招募测试人员对其标注结构特征点，并用参数曲线建模输出“去除笔法”后的样品图，再进一步经严格定义的“统一结构”操作进行处理，共获得3组样品图，每组468幅。然后，编制审美量表，招募测试者以随机分配的方式对3组样品评测美感和风格。最后，对评测数据进行统计分析。结果显示，对于楷书文字的风格而言，笔法的影响远高于结构；对于文字的美感而言，笔法的作用也大于结构，但影响有限。该结果局限于实验选定的几种经典的楷书文字，且其定义的“去除笔法”和“统一结构”并不能完全涵盖以往经验理论中的相关概念范围。研究表明，自然学科的方法可用于研究书法学中的命题。

关键词： 笔法, 结构, 书法风格, 实验美学, 实证美学

Fig.1 Experimental design concept

Fig. 2 3 types of structural key point

Fig.3 Geometric definition of structural key points

Fig.4 Interface of font labeling platform

Fig.5 The process of font fitting in marking system

Table 1 Experimental font constitute

Fig 6 Scale test process

Table2 Statistics of selected times of aesthetic and style words

Fig.7 Aesthetic selection results of each font model

Fig.8 The style selection result of each font model

Table 3 Font aesthetic relevance

Table 4 Font style correlation

Table 5 Correlation of book style

Table 6 Style correlation between 6 generated fonts

Table 7 Improved style similarity after stroke replacement

Table 8 Improved style similarity after structure unification


[1]	王林. 谈中国书法线条之气质美［J］. 大观周刊， 2013， 617（5）：36-45. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1008-925X.2013.05.028 WANG L. On the temperament beauty of Chinese calligraphy lines［J］.Dagan Weekly， 2013， 617（5）：36-45. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1008-925X.2013.05.028 doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1008-925X.2013.05.028

[2]	高光天. 启功书学思想的启迪［J］. 中国书法， 2020（2）： 75-81. DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1003-1782.2020. 02.021 GAO G T. The enlightenment of Qigong's thought of calligraphy［J］. Chinese Calligraphy， 2020（2）： 75-81. DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1003-1782.2020.02.021 doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-1782.2020.02.021

[3]	王娜. 中国书法艺术的审美特征［J］. 武汉理工大学学报（社会科学版）， 2009， 22（1）： 118-122. DOI： 10.3963/j.issn.1671-6477.2009.01.022 WANG N. On the esthetic characteristics of Chinese calligraphy［J］. Wuhan University of Technology （Social Science Edition）， 2009， 22（1）： 118-122. DOI：10.3963/j.issn.1671-6477.2009.01.022 doi: 10.3963/j.issn.1671-6477.2009.01.022

[4]	薛军. 线质美与结构美——谈书法欣赏教学［J］. 青少年书法， 2003（5）： 16. XUE J. Linear beauty and structural beauty：On calligraphy appreciation teaching ［J］. Jurenile Calligraphy， 2003（5）： 16.

[5]	BRACHMANN A， REDIES C. Computational and experimental approaches to visual aesthetics［J］. Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience， 2017， 11： 102. DOI：10.3389/fncom.2017.00102 doi: 10.3389/fncom.2017.00102

[6]	徐利明. 中国书法风格史［M］. 郑州：河南美术出版社， 2009. XU L M. History of Chinese Calligraphy Style［M］.Zhengzhou： Henna Fine Arts Publishing House， 2009.

[7]	陈振濂. 书法美学与批评十六讲［M］. 上海：上海书画出版社， 2018.10：99. CHEN Z L. Sixteen Lectures on Calligraphy AesthEtics and Criticism［M］. Shanghai： Shanghai Calligraphy and Painting Publishing House， 2018.10：99.

[8]	瓦伦汀. 实验审美心理学［M］. 海口：三环出版社， 1989： 20-40. doi:10.1002/chin.v20.40 VA L T. Experimental Aesthetic Psychology［M］. Haikou：Sanhuan Publishing House， 1989： 20-40. doi:10.1002/chin.v20.40 doi: 10.1002/chin.v20.40

[9]	白茹意，郭小英，贾春花，等. 绘画图像美学研究方法综述［J］. 中国图象图形学报， 2019， 24（11）： 1860-1881. doi:10.11834/jig.190118 BAI R Y， GUO X Y， JIA C H， et al. Overview of research methods of painting aesthetics［J］. Journal of Image and Graphics， 2019， 24（11）： 1860-1881. doi:10.11834/jig.190118 doi: 10.11834/jig.190118

[10]	GALLESE V. The Empathic Body in Experimental Aesthetics-Embodied Simulation and Art［M］. London： Palgrave Macmillan， 2017. DOI：10.1057/978-1-137-51299-4_7 doi: 10.1057/978-1-137-51299-4_7

[11]	DECASTELLARNAU A. A classification of response scale characteristics that affect data quality： A literature review［J］. Quality & Quantity， 2018， 52（4）： 1523-1559. DOI：10.1007/s11135-017-0533-4 doi: 10.1007/s11135-017-0533-4

[12]	SCHERER I， HOSOYA G， MENNINGHAUS W， et al. Measuring aesthetic emotions： A review of the literature and a new assessment tool［J］. PLoS One， 2017， 12（6）： e0178899. DOI：10.1371/journal.pone. 0178899 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone. 0178899

[13]	LI R， QIN R L， ZJANG J S， et al. The esthetic preference of Chinese typefaces： An event-related potential study［J］. Brain Research， 2015，1598： 57-65. DOI：10.1016/j.brainres.2014.11.055 doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.11.055

[14]	黄正明. 汉代隶书风格分类的实验美学研究［D］. 南京：南京大学， 2008. HUANG Z M. An Empirical Aesthetic Research on the Classification of Calligraphy-With Experimental Psychological and Cluster Approach［D］. Nanjing： Nanjing University 2008.

[15]	XU S， TANG M， LAU F， et al. A solid model based virtual hairy brush［C］// Computer Graphics Forum. Oxford： Blackwell Publishing， Inc， 2002， 21（3）： 299-308. doi:10.1111/1467-8659.00589 doi: 10.1111/1467-8659.00589

[16]	YANG H M， LU J J， LEE H J. A Bezier curve-based approach to shape description for Chinese calligraphy characters［C］// Proceedings of Sixth International Conference on Document Analysis and Recognition. Seattle： IEEE， 2001： 276-280.

[17]	马小虎，杨亦呜，黄文帆，等. 甲骨文轮廓字形生成技术研究与通用甲骨文字库的建设［J］. 语言文字应用， 2004（3）： 105-111. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1003-5397.2004.03.020 MA X H， YANG Y M， HUANG W F， et al. Oracle typeface and database generation［J］. Applied Linguistics， 2004（3）： 105-111. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1003-5397.2004.03.020 doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-5397.2004.03.020

[18]	弓彦周，李猛，王健，等. 数字书法生成方法［J］. 浙江大学学报（理学版）， 2020， 47（4）： 391-397， 407. DOI：10.3785/j.issn.1008-9497.2020.04.001 GONG Y Z， LI M， WANG J， et al. Digital calligraphy generation method［J］. Journal of Zhejiang University（Science Edition）， 2020， 47（4）： 391-397， 407. DOI：10.3785/j.issn.1008-9497.2020.04.001 doi: 10.3785/j.issn.1008-9497.2020.04.001

[19]	刘浏，李斌，曲维光，等. 先秦词汇的时代特征自动获取及文献时代的自动判定［J］. 中文信息学报， 2013， 27（5）： 107-113. DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1003-0077.2013.05.015 LIU L， LI B， QU W G， et al. The automatic acquisition of pre-Qin word's property of times and the automatic classification of document's times［J］. Journal of Chinese Information Processing， 2013， 27（5）： 107-113. DOI： 10.3969/j.issn.1003-0077. 2013.05.015 doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-0077. 2013.05.015

[20]	XIA W P， JIN L W. A kai style calligraphic beautification method for handwriting Chinese character［C］// 10th International Conference on Document Analysis and Recognition（ICDAR）. Barcelona： IEEE， 2009： 10-15. DOI：10.1109/ICDAR. 2009.59 doi: 10.1109/ICDAR. 2009.59

[21]	ZHANG S， WANG P J， HOU W J. Research on Font Emotion Based on Semantic Difference Method［M］. Cham： Springer， 2019： 10-20. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-15127-0_30 doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-15127-0_30

[22]	艾肯，马纳特，孙健敏. 艾肯心理测量与评估［M］. 北京：中国人民大学出版社， 2013. AILKEN L R， GARY G M， SUN J M. Psychological Testing and Assessment［M］. Beijing： China Renmin University Press， 2013.

[23]	SUN R J， LIAN Z H， TANG Y M， et al. Aesthetic visual quality evaluation of Chinese handwritings［C］// Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence. Palo Alto： AAAI Press， 2015： 2510-2516.

[24]	陈晓琪，谢振平，刘渊. 增量采样聚类驱动的新闻事件发现［J］. 智能系统学报， 2020， 15（6）： 1175-1184. doi:10.11992/tis.201912037 CHEN X Q， XIE Z P， LIU Y. News event detection driven by incremental sampling clustering［J］. CAAI Transactions on Intelligent Systems， 2020， 15（6）： 1175-1184. doi:10.11992/tis.201912037 doi: 10.11992/tis.201912037

[25]	叶鹏飞. 启功先生“结体为上”的书学观［J］. 中国书法， 2020（2）： 73-74. DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1003-1782. 2020.02.020 YE P F. Mr. Qigong's calligraphy view of "composition is supreme"［J］. Chinese Calligraphy， 2020（2）： 73-74. DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1003-1782. 2020.02.020 doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-1782. 2020.02.020

[1]	Jinghui WEI,Sheng WU. Research on the evolution of the characteristics of the urban comprehensive connection network in Fujian province[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2023, 50(2): 225-235.

[2]	CHEN Wanlong, FENG Youjian. Research on the regional network structure of the Yangtze River Delta from the perspective of railway passenger transport[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2021, 48(5): 606-616.

[3]	LOU Xiaofang, CHEN Xiaoyuan. Frobenius properties for partial entwined modules[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2021, 48(5): 540-543.

[4]	XU Zhou, LIN Xiaosong, ZHU Rong, LUO Junhua. Research on the spatial structure of rural highway accessibility in Wushan county[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2019, 46(4): 511-520.

[5]	Xin CAI, Bo CHEN, Feng CHEN, Weijie CHEN, Zilin CHEN, Pan WANG, Zhenhui CHEN, Xiaofeng JIN. Population structure and interspecific association of Rhododendron huadingense, a rare and endemic species in China[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2019, 46(3): 354-363.

[6]	Weimin SUN. Quantum gauge transformation in free electromagnetic field theory and its generator criterion.[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2019, 46(2): 196-201.

[7]	WU Yaqun, YAN Junping, ZHANG Ping, LU Jiayu. A study on the spatial-temporal distribution and trendency judgement for earthquakes of M_w≥5.8 in Pakistan[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2019, 46(1): 111-120.

[8]	LU Kaner, ZHU Wenbing, LIANG Jun, LI Dewei, DAI Qian, LU Zhanhui, XU Kaida. The relationship between shrimps community structure and environmental factors in Jiushan Islands waters[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2019, 46(1): 65-77.

[9]	SONG Yongyong, XUE Dongqian, DAI Lanhai, ZHONG Juntao, XIA Siyou. Characteristics and economic effects of industrial structure transformation and upgrade in energy exploitation area of northern Shaanxi province[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2019, 46(1): 121-130.

[10]	JIANG Yinzhi, LI Jing, YUAN Huiqiang, CHEN Yanhui. Core-shell Fenton catalyst CuFe₂O₄@PDA-Cu: Preparation, characterization and property in dye degradation by activated H₂O₂.[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2018, 45(4): 450-460.

[11]	ZHANG Yunli, ZHU Ziqiang, LI Xiaochuan, LIU Kuili, WU Hongzhang, ZHOU Xiaodong. The study of Cr doped LiZnAs diluted semiconductor based on the first-principles[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2018, 45(4): 429-435.

[12]	HAN Meng. Hybrid chicken swarm algorithm with dissipative structure and differential mutation[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2018, 45(3): 272-283.

[13]	SHI Meihua. The cup products of a weak entwining structure[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2017, 44(2): 139-143.

[14]	FAN Zhongping. The classification of 4-dimensional coalgebra[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2017, 44(1): 28-32.

[15]	FAN Zheyong, LIU Tao, BAO Xiuxiu, FEI Jinhua. The adsorption and catalytic cracking of C₈ hydrocarbons on HZSM-5 zeolite[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University (Science Edition), 2016, 43(4): 411-415.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed