Galleries and Translations > Poetry and Others > Devote Every Moment to Learning and Practising (俯習寸陰 )
Devote Every Moment to Learning and Practising (俯習寸陰 )
40cm X 23cm in clerical script (隸書)
Remarks
(I)
This phrase was drafted by Sun Guoting (孫過庭, 648-703AD) in his A Narrative on Calligraphy (《書譜》) (1), an authoritative monograph on Chinese calligraphy. He used this expression to encourage calligraphers to learn and practise the art tirelessly to reach the highest level of excellence (2).
(II)
Confucius enshrined devotion to learning, for it reveals wisdom to the mind:
好學近乎知. (3)Those who love learning are approaching close to wisdom.(translated by KS Vincent Poon)
Confucius further contended persistent learning and practising can lead to joy and satisfaction:
學而時習之，不亦說乎？(4)To learn and to constantly practise one's learning, is it not delightful?(translated by KS Vincent Poon)
Thus, Confucius once said, "I never grow tired of learning (我學不厭)." (5)
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(1) KS Vincent Poon & Kwok Kin Poon, A Narrative on Calligraphy by Sun Guoting Revised and Enhanced Edition. Toronto: The Senseis, 2019, p.18.
(2) Ibid., pp.15-19.
(3)《中庸》. See 朱熹,《四書集註》. Hong Kong: 太平書局, 1968 , p.16.
(4)《論語∙學而》. Ibid., p.1.
(5)《孟子∙公孫丑上》. Ibid., p.41.
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