Start with Horizontal, Vertical, Left-Falling, and Right-Falling Strokes to Build a Solid Regular Script Foundation
When learning regular script, many people begin by copying complete characters and often overlook the strokes themselves. According to publicly available materials, the basic strokes of regular script usually include dot, horizontal, vertical, left-falling, right-falling, turning, raising, and hook. Among these, horizontal, vertical, left-falling, and right-falling strokes appear frequently and directly affect a character's balance and vitality. For beginners, instead of trying to cover too much too quickly, it is better to practice these four strokes separately. First steady your hand and make the lines clean, then gradually move on to structure.
This article focuses mainly on hard-pen regular script for beginners, while also considering everyday writing. The principles of hard-pen and brush strokes are related, but hard-pen writing emphasizes clarity and crispness more, and does not need deliberately exaggerated thick-and-thin changes. As long as the three actions of starting, moving, and finishing are clear, the forms of the characters will gradually become upright.
Horizontal: First Learn to Draw a Steady Line
Key Techniques
- Start with a light press: After the pen tip touches the paper, make a very small pause so the stroke has a beginning point; do not simply slide straight across.
- Move steadily: When moving to the right, slow down and keep the pressure as even as possible. A horizontal stroke is usually not completely flat; it should rise slightly toward the upper right, giving it more vitality.
- Finish cleanly: At the end, pause lightly and lift the pen, avoiding rough edges or a sudden sharp flick.
Common Problems and Corrections
- Horizontal stroke becomes wavy: This is often caused by a trembling hand or writing too fast. Slow down and let the arm guide the pen, rather than moving it only with the fingers.
- Both ends of the horizontal stroke droop: Keep a slight upward momentum, and avoid writing it as an arc.
- Multiple horizontal strokes have no clear length difference: When writing characters such as 二, 三, and 王, distinguish the main horizontal stroke from secondary ones. The long horizontal should be extended, while the short ones should be restrained.
Vertical: Make the Character Stand Firm
Two Common Vertical Strokes
- Hanging-needle vertical: The end tapers gradually, like a hanging needle. It is often used for the final vertical stroke of a character.
- Dewdrop vertical: The end pauses lightly and is drawn back, like a hanging drop of dew. It is often used where a steady, contained ending is needed.
Key Techniques
- Press lightly at the beginning to fix the position.
- When moving downward, keep the pen tip stable and the direction straight, without leaning left or right.
- For the hanging-needle vertical, gradually lift from heavy to light; for the dewdrop vertical, pause slightly at the end before finishing, and do not flick out carelessly.
If a vertical stroke is crooked, it is often because the wrist turns too much. You can first draw a faint straight line on the paper as a guide, then practice along the line repeatedly until your arm learns the feeling of moving straight downward.
Left-Falling Stroke: Write a Natural Curve
The left-falling stroke opens from the upper right toward the lower left. When written well, it makes the character look open and relaxed. Beginners often turn it into a straight stick, or lose control at the end so that it suddenly becomes too thin.
Key Techniques
- Begin steadily: Press lightly first, then move toward the lower left.
- Keep a gentle curve in the middle: The left-falling stroke is not a straight line; it should have a natural bend. The curve should not be too large, nor should the stroke become stiff.
- Send the tip out at the end: As you approach the tail, gradually reduce pressure so the pen tip leaves the paper naturally, forming a clean taper.
Practice Suggestions
- Practice short left-falling strokes first, then long ones; avoid chasing length at the beginning.
- Use characters such as 人, 八, 千, and 川 to feel the direction and curve of the left-falling stroke.
- When writing a left-falling stroke, keep the wrist relaxed and do not press hard all the way to the end.
Right-Falling Stroke: Open the Center of Gravity Steadily
The right-falling stroke is often paired with the left-falling stroke and determines whether the character's momentum is open. If it is not written well, the character can look cramped or unbalanced. The key is to open first and then control the ending; it should not become a simple diagonal line.
Key Techniques
- Enter lightly: For a diagonal right-falling stroke, touch the paper lightly from the upper left toward the lower right, then gradually increase pressure.
- Spread the tip or add pressure in the middle: In hard-pen writing, you can show a change in thickness by applying moderate pressure, but do not exaggerate it.
- Pause at the foot, then release horizontally: When you reach the foot of the stroke, pause briefly, then slowly send the pen to the right or slightly upward, forming a stable ending.
Common Mistakes
- The stroke looks like a slide: It lacks change in the middle, making the line thin and weak.
- The foot is too heavy: Pressing too hard at the end makes it look clumsy.
- The stroke is too short: It does not match the left-falling stroke, so the character cannot open up.
Daily Practice Plan: A Four-Step Method for Horizontal, Vertical, Left-Falling, and Right-Falling Strokes
Actionable Steps
- Step 1: Warm up with lines. First draw slow horizontal and vertical lines on paper. The focus is not on quantity, but on making the lines clean, steady, and unbroken.
- Step 2: Repeat single strokes. Practice horizontal, vertical, left-falling, and right-falling strokes in order. For each stroke, first observe the beginning, movement, and finish, then write it.
- Step 3: Use simple characters. Choose simple characters to consolidate the strokes. For horizontal strokes, practice 一, 二, and 三; for vertical strokes, practice 十, 中, and 木; for left-falling strokes, practice 人, 八, and 千; for right-falling strokes, practice 大, 人, and 文.
- Step 4: Compare and correct. After each set, choose the least satisfying stroke, mark the problem, and in the next set correct only one problem at a time.
Daily Practice Checklist
- Did I observe first before writing, instead of writing casually?
- Are horizontal strokes steady, without obvious trembling or drooping?
- Are vertical strokes upright, with clean endings?
- Do left-falling strokes have a natural curve and a light, clean taper?
- Do right-falling strokes have a clear beginning and ending, with a steady foot?
- Did I correct only one main problem, instead of trying to fix too many?
Practical Advice for Beginners
- Slow before fast: Regular script is not produced by speed. First make the movements clear, then work on fluency.
- Accurate before beautiful: First aim for correct position and direction, then pursue line quality.
- Few but precise: Writing a small number of strokes carefully each day is more effective than mechanically filling a page.
- Use guides: You can use grid lines, straight lines, or copybooks to help observation, but do not merely trace the outer shape; understand the movement of the strokes.
- Keep samples: Regularly save your practice sheets so you can compare progress and notice recurring problems.
Conclusion
Horizontal, vertical, left-falling, and right-falling strokes seem simple, but they are the foundation of regular script aesthetics. When the horizontal is steady, the character is settled; when the vertical is upright, the character stands; when the left-falling stroke opens, the character becomes lively; when the right-falling stroke is controlled, the character is complete. Setting aside a fixed period each day, practicing step by step, and checking yourself promptly will bring more visible change than copying copybooks blindly. Once the basic strokes are clean, structure and composition will have something to rely on.
References
Disclaimer: This article is compiled from publicly available online sources for educational purposes only and does not represent the official position of Guanshan Academy. If you believe your rights have been infringed, please contact us for removal.
Contact: chenxj.g@gmail.com
