Learn calligraphy: cursive script - rules of writing - rule #2

The second rule of writing in cursive script (草書) (second of of ten in total; to read more about cursive script and the rules in general see my article here) is that some strokes can begin in the position where the previous stroke ended.

This is quite a vital rule and goes along with all 10 rules of writing in cursive script. Those rules not only define the appearance and dynamics of the cursive script itself, but also influence the overall composition and mood.

There is a technique known in Japanese as "unbroken line" (連綿体, lit. unbroken script). This technique applies to Chinese and Japanese  calligraphy on many levels and I will discuss it in greater details in a separate article, however, the basic idea is to write calligraphy in a way to create an illusion or continuity, or actually merge all characters (or some) in one long brush stroke (where the brush does not leave the surface).

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As you can see in the diagram (above) and the video, the cursive script is all about the flow, but a flow that follows strict calligraphy rules (other than 10 general rules of writing cursive script). Those rules can be only mastered via studying and copying of ancient classical Chinese (or Japanese, in case of Japanese calligraphy) literature.

rule #1

cursive script menu

rule #3