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Chinese Calligraphy · Unit 1 · Lesson 3 · 書法 單元一 第三課

Can One Character Teach You Every Stroke?永字八法：一個字學會所有筆畫？

The character 永 (forever) has only five strokes, but inside them are the eight basic movements of regular script. Watch a 3D brush write 永, replay each of the eight principles in slow motion, then write it yourself in the right order.
「永」只有五畫，裡面卻藏著楷書最基本的八種運筆。看 3D 毛筆寫「永」，把八法一法一法放慢重播，再照筆順自己寫一次。

Big idea · 一句話看懂

The character 永 holds the eight basic movements of regular script: the dot, the horizontal, the vertical, the hook, the rising stroke, the long left-falling stroke, the short left-falling stroke, and the right-falling stroke. Learn these eight, and you have the building blocks of most strokes.
「永」這一個字裡就有楷書最基本的八種筆畫：點、橫、豎、鉤、提、長撇、短撇、捺。學會這八種，就掌握了大部分筆畫的基本功。

3D Model · 3D 模型

Eight Principles in One Character 一個字裡的八法

Drag to turn, and scroll or pinch to zoom. The brush writes 永 in stroke order, and each principle's old name appears on the paper when it is finished. Tap one of the eight buttons to replay just that principle at quarter speed, or tap Whole to write the character again. The curve shows how hard the brush presses, with a band for each principle in the stroke.
拖曳可以旋轉，滾輪或雙指可以縮放。毛筆照筆順寫「永」，每寫完一法，紙上就出現它的古名。點八個按鈕之一，用四分之一的速度只重播那一法；點「整個字」再寫一次。曲線是這一筆壓多重，每一法一個色帶。

Drag to turn · 拖曳旋轉　Scroll or pinch to zoom · 滾輪／雙指縮放

This 3D model needs WebGL, which this browser does not support. The reading, the eight cards, and the practice pad below still work.
這個瀏覽器不支援 WebGL，無法顯示 3D 模型；下方的課文、八法卡片和練字板一樣能用。

  • Teal label: the principle the brush is writing now
    青色標籤：毛筆正在寫的那一法
  • Gold-edged labels: the eight principles, shown as each one is finished
    金框標籤：八法，寫完一法出現一個
  • Red lines: the 米 grid
    紅線：米字格
  • Colored bands on the curve: the principles inside the current stroke
    曲線上的色帶：這一筆裡的各法

A teaching model. The grid is 26 centimeters wide. The five strokes of 永 are hand-drawn as centerlines with a pressure and a speed for every point, in the stroke order of the Ministry of Education. Where each principle begins and ends inside a stroke is marked on the stroke data; calligraphers may divide a turn a little differently.
這是教學用的示意模型，格子 26 公分寬。「永」的五畫是自己手繪的中心線，每一點都有壓力和速度，筆順依教育部。每一法在一筆裡從哪裡開始、到哪裡結束，標在筆畫資料上；轉折處要怎麼分，書法家的說法可能略有不同。

Model, stroke data, and the writing engine are drawn and programmed by My Culture Connect. Stroke order follows the Ministry of Education's Stroke Order of Standard Chinese Characters website. · 模型、筆畫資料與寫字引擎由人師教育協會自繪、自寫；筆順依教育部《國字標準字體筆順學習網》。

Reading · 英文閱讀

3

Unit 3: Can One Character Teach You Every Stroke?

If you could practice only one character, which one would you choose? For a very long time, calligraphy students have started with 永 (yǒng), which means forever. Its five strokes contain the eight basic ways of moving the brush in regular script. Together they are called the Eight Principles of Yong, a simple guide to the dots and lines of regular script.

如果只能練一個字，你會選哪一個？很久以來，學書法的人都從「永」字開始。「永」是永遠的意思，它的五畫裡，就有楷書最基本的八種運筆方式，合稱「永字八法」，是學習楷書點畫的簡要法則。

The eight principles have old names that sound like actions. In writing order, they are 側 for the dot, 勒 for the horizontal stroke, 努 for the vertical stroke, 趯 for the hook, 策 for the rising stroke, 掠 for the long left-falling stroke, 啄 for the short left-falling stroke, and 磔 for the right-falling stroke. 勒 is the bridle you use to rein in a horse, 策 is a horsewhip, 啄 is the way a bird pecks, and 磔 means to tear apart.

八法都有聽起來像動作的古名。照書寫的順序是：側（點）、勒（橫）、努（直豎）、趯（鉤）、策（斜書向上的提）、掠（長撇）、啄（右上的短撇）、磔（捺）。勒是拉住馬的韁繩，策是馬鞭，啄是鳥啄食的樣子，磔是撕開的意思。

But wait: 永 has only five strokes, so how can it hold eight principles? Some strokes do more than one job. The second stroke starts as a horizontal line, turns down into a vertical line, and ends with a hook. The third stroke rises to the right and then sweeps down to the left. At each turn, the brush lifts a little, presses down, and then changes direction.

等一下：「永」只有五畫，怎麼裝得下八法？因為有幾筆身兼數職。第二畫先是一筆橫，轉下來變成豎，最後帶出一個鉤；第三畫先往右上提，再往左下撇。每到轉角，毛筆都先稍微提起、再按下，然後才換方向。

Each principle has its own rhythm. The dot enters, presses, and turns back. The hook stops, presses, and then flicks out quickly to a point. The left-falling strokes start heavy and become lighter and faster, while the right-falling stroke starts light, presses harder and harder, and flattens out at the end like a foot.

每一法都有自己的節奏。點是入筆、按下、回收；鉤是停住、按一下，再快速踢出成尖；撇由重到輕、越寫越快；捺則由輕到重，越按越重，最後像腳一樣平平地收尾。

Who invented the Eight Principles? Nobody knows for sure. Old books name different people, including Wang Xizhi, Zhong Yao, Zhiyong, and Zhang Xu. Zhiyong, a Buddhist monk who was a seventh-generation descendant of Wang Xizhi, is famous for how hard he practiced. A Tang-dynasty book says he copied the Thousand Character Classic 800 times and wore out so many brushes that he buried the old brush tips in a grave.

永字八法是誰發明的？沒有人確定。古書裡提到不同的人，例如王羲之、鍾繇、智永、張旭。智永是王羲之的第七世孫，出家為僧，以勤練書法出名：唐代的書記載他臨寫《千字文》八百本，寫壞的毛筆多到把筆頭埋起來，堆成「退筆冢」。

In this lesson, watch the 3D brush write 永 one stroke at a time, and replay any of the eight principles in slow motion. Then write 永 on the practice pad in the correct stroke order: the dot, the horizontal stroke that turns down into a hook, the stroke that rises and sweeps left, the short left-falling stroke, and the right-falling stroke. The pad will compare each of your strokes with the brush's.

這一課，先看 3D 毛筆一畫一畫寫出「永」，八法中任何一法都能慢動作重播。再到練字板照筆順寫「永」：點、橫折鉤、橫撇、撇、捺。練字板會把你的每一筆和毛筆的示範拿來比較。
Read aloud · 課文朗讀

Questions · 閱讀理解

Why do calligraphy students often start with the character 永?

Its five strokes contain the eight basic ways of moving the brush in regular script, so it is a simple guide to the dots and lines.

永 has only five strokes. How can it hold eight principles?

Some strokes do more than one job. The second stroke is a horizontal, a vertical, and a hook; the third stroke rises to the right and then sweeps down to the left.

What should the brush do at a turn, like the corner of the second stroke?

It lifts a little, presses down, and then changes direction.

Words & Phrases · 生字及片語

principle(n.)原則；法則Fairness is an important principle in every sport.公平是每一種運動的重要原則。basic(adj.)基本的Learn the basic rules before you play the game.玩遊戲之前先學會基本規則。combine(v.)結合；合併Combine the flour and the eggs in a large bowl.把麵粉和蛋放進大碗裡拌在一起。hook(n.)鉤子Hang your coat on the hook behind the door.把外套掛在門後的鉤子上。sweep(v.)掃過；揮過The wind swept the dry leaves across the road.風把乾葉子掃過了馬路。peck(v.)啄The chickens peck at the corn on the ground.雞在地上啄玉米。practice(v.)練習She practices the piano for an hour every day.她每天練一個小時的鋼琴。order(n.)順序Put the cards in order from one to ten.把卡片從一到十排好順序。

Quick Check · 小測驗

1. How many strokes does the character 永 have?

2. Which principle is the hook?

3. What does the old name 啄 describe?

4. Which stroke starts light and grows heavier as it goes down to the right?

5. Who invented the Eight Principles of Yong?

Eight Principles · 八法

One card for each principle 每一法一張卡

The black part of each little 永 is that principle. Tap Watch it in 3D to replay it at quarter speed.
每個小「永」塗黑的部分就是那一法。點「在模型中看」，用四分之一的速度重播。

側 cè · Dot側（點）

Old name: “side” · 古名「側」

Enter from the upper left with the tip, press down to the lower right, then turn back up a little. Even a dot has a start, a press, and a finish.
筆尖從左上方入筆，往右下按，再稍微往回收。一個點也有起筆、按下、收筆。

勒 lè · Horizontal勒（橫）

Old name: “bridle” · 古名「勒」

Hide the tip, press, and move to the right a little uphill, holding back as if pulling on a horse's reins. At the corner, lift a little and press down to the lower right.
藏鋒、按下，往右稍微往上走，好像拉著馬的韁繩一樣收著力。到轉角先稍提，再往右下按。

努 nǔ · Vertical努（直豎）

Old name: “effort” · 古名「努」

From the corner, move straight down with steady, even strength, keeping the tip in the middle of the line.
從轉角往下，用穩定平均的力量直直地走，筆尖保持在線的中間。

趯 tì · Hook趯（鉤）

Old name: “leap” · 古名「趯」

At the bottom, stop and press, then flick up and to the left quickly, lifting as you go, so the hook ends in a sharp point.
到了底部先停住、按一下，再快速往左上方踢出去，一邊提筆，鉤尖收成尖尖的。

策 cè · Rising stroke策（斜書向上）

Old name: “horsewhip” · 古名「策」

Press down, then move up to the right quickly and lightly, like the flick of a rider's whip.
先按下，再快速、輕輕地往右上走，像騎馬的人揮一下鞭子。

掠 lüè · Long left-falling掠（撇）

Old name: “skim” · 古名「掠」

From the turn, sweep down and to the left, getting lighter and faster, so the stroke ends in a fine point.
從轉角往左下撇出去，越來越輕、越來越快，收成細細的尖。

啄 zhuó · Short left-falling啄（右短撇）

Old name: “peck” · 古名「啄」

Press, then flick down and to the left quickly and sharply, like a bird pecking at its food.
先按下，再快速、俐落地往左下撇，像鳥在啄食。

磔 zhé · Right-falling磔（捺）

Old name: “tear” · 古名「磔」

Start light, then press harder and harder as you move down to the right. At the foot, press, flatten out to the right, and lift to a point.
起筆輕，往右下走時越按越重；到了捺腳按一下，往右平出，提筆收尖。

Practice Pad · 練字板

Write 永 in stroke order 照筆順寫「永」

Trace the faint red 永 in the order of the blue numbers. After each stroke, the chart compares your press-and-lift curve with the brush's for that stroke. Turn on Watch the demo to see the order first.
照藍色數字的順序描寫淡紅色的「永」。每寫完一筆，圖上就把你的提按曲線和毛筆那一筆比較。先按「看示範」看一次筆順。

  1. Follow the blue numbers: the dot, the horizontal-turn-hook, the rising stroke into a long sweep, the short left-falling stroke, and the right-falling stroke.照藍色數字：點、橫折鉤、橫撇、撇、捺。
  2. At the corner of stroke 2 and stroke 3, slow down: lift a little, press, then turn.第 2、3 筆的轉角要放慢：先稍提、再按、再轉。
  3. Write the hook and the sweeps quickly; write the start of the right-falling stroke lightly.鉤和撇要快；捺的起筆要輕。

Your press-and-lift curve · 你的提按曲線

Demo · 示範　You · 你

Stories of Practice · 練字的故事

Who made it, and how the old masters practiced 誰發明的，古人又怎麼練字

One mystery and three stories about practicing, practicing, and practicing.
一個謎，和三個關於「練、練、再練」的故事。

A Mystery · 一個謎

Who made the Eight Principles?誰發明了永字八法？

Nobody knows for sure who first taught calligraphy with 永. Old books give different answers, naming Wang Xizhi, Cui Ziyu, Zhong Yao, Zhiyong, or Zhang Xu. What everyone agrees on is how useful it is: Taiwan's Ministry of Education dictionary calls it a simple guide to learning the dots and strokes of regular script.
到底是誰最先用「永」字教書法，沒有人確定。古書的說法不一，有王羲之、崔子玉、鍾繇、智永、張旭等。大家都同意的是它很好用：教育部辭典說它是「學習書法正楷點畫的簡要法則」。

Zhiyong · 智永

A grave for worn-out brushes退筆冢

The Tang-dynasty book Shangshu Gushi says the monk Zhiyong copied the Thousand Character Classic 800 times and gave a copy to each temple south of the Yangtze River. His worn-out brush tips filled ten jars, so he buried them and called the place the Grave of Retired Brushes. So many people came to ask for his writing that his doorstep wore through and had to be covered with iron.
唐代的《尚書故實》記載，智永禪師臨寫《千字文》八百本，江南的寺廟各留一本。寫禿的筆頭裝滿了十個甕，他把筆頭埋起來，稱為「退筆冢」。來求字的人太多，連門檻都被踩穿，只好用鐵葉包起來，叫做「鐵門限」。

Zhang Zhi · 張芝

The pond that turned black臨池學書

It is said that Zhang Zhi of the Eastern Han dynasty practiced so hard that he wrote on all of his family's cloth and silk and then boiled it clean, and he practiced beside a pond until the water turned black. Ever since, 臨池, “by the pond,” has been a way to say practicing calligraphy.
相傳東漢張芝學書法非常勤奮，家裡的衣帛都被他寫上字，然後再煮白；他在池邊練字，池水都被染黑了。後來人們就用「臨池」來稱學習書法。

Zheng Qian · 鄭虔

Practicing on persimmon leaves柿葉學書

The same Tang book tells of Zheng Qian, who wanted to practice but could not afford paper. He heard that Ci'en Temple had rooms full of persimmon leaves, so he stayed there and practiced on the red leaves every day for years. Later he wrote out his own poems, added his paintings, and presented them in one scroll. Emperor Xuanzong wrote at the end: “Zheng Qian's three perfections.”
同一本書還記載：鄭虔想練字卻買不起紙，聽說慈恩寺有好幾間屋子堆滿柿葉，就借住寺裡，每天拿紅葉練字，好幾年下來幾乎寫遍。後來他把自己的詩和畫一起獻上，唐玄宗在卷尾題了「鄭虔三絕」。

Myth vs. Fact · 常見迷思

Four things people get wrong 四個常見的誤會

✗ Myth · 迷思永 has eight strokes.「永」有八畫。

✓ Fact · 事實永 has five strokes. The eight principles are eight ways of moving the brush, and some strokes use more than one: the second stroke is a horizontal, a vertical, and a hook.「永」只有五畫。八法是八種運筆，有幾畫身兼數法：第二畫就有橫、豎、鉤三法。

✗ Myth · 迷思Once you learn 永, you can write every character well.學會「永」，就能把每個字都寫好。

✓ Fact · 事實The eight principles are a guide to the basic dots and lines. Many strokes are variations or combinations of them, and a good character also needs the right stroke order and a balanced structure.八法是基本點畫的入門法則。很多筆畫是它們的變化或組合；字要寫好，還要有正確的筆順和平穩的結構。

✗ Myth · 迷思Wang Xizhi invented the Eight Principles of Yong.永字八法是王羲之發明的。

✓ Fact · 事實Nobody knows for sure. Old books name several people, including Wang Xizhi, Cui Ziyu, Zhong Yao, Zhiyong, and Zhang Xu.沒有人確定。古書提到好幾個人，包括王羲之、崔子玉、鍾繇、智永、張旭。

✗ Myth · 迷思A dot is just a quick tap of the brush.點就是筆尖碰一下。

✓ Fact · 事實Even a dot has a start, a press, and a finish: the tip enters from the upper left, presses down to the lower right, and turns back.點也有起筆、按下、收筆：筆尖從左上入筆，往右下按，再回收。

Remember It · 記憶口訣

The Eight Principles in a sentence 一句話記住永字八法

Eight in writing order側勒努趯，策掠啄磔

Dot, horizontal, vertical, hook; rise, long sweep, peck, right-fall.
點、橫、豎、鉤；提、長撇、短撇、捺。

Five strokes, eight principles五畫八法

Some strokes do two or three jobs.
有的筆畫一筆身兼兩三法。

At a turn: lift, press, turn轉折：提、按、轉

Slow down at every corner before changing direction.
每個轉角都先放慢，再換方向。

Light to heavy, heavy to light撇由重到輕，捺由輕到重

Left-falling strokes fade out; the right-falling stroke grows into a foot.
撇越寫越輕；捺越寫越重，最後收成捺腳。

In the Classroom · 教室提醒

Before you pick up a brush 拿起毛筆之前

  • Ink stains clothes and is very hard to wash out. Wear old clothes or an apron, and roll up your sleeves.墨沾到衣服很難洗掉：穿舊衣服或圍裙，袖子捲起來。
  • Cover the desk with old newspaper, and keep the ink in a heavy, steady dish so it will not tip over.桌上先鋪舊報紙；墨要裝在重一點、放得穩的碟子裡，免得打翻。
  • Press gently. Crushing the brush against the paper squashes the hairs and can split or break them.輕輕地按就好：把筆用力壓在紙上，筆毛會擠扁，也可能分岔或折斷。
  • Do not put the brush, the ink, or the ink stick in your mouth, and do not lick the brush tip to shape it.毛筆、墨汁、墨條都不要放進嘴裡，也不要用嘴巴舔筆尖。
  • After writing, wash the brush in clean water until the water runs clear, gently shape it into a point, and hang it tip-down or lay it flat to dry. Wash your hands, too.寫完後用清水洗筆，洗到水變清為止；輕輕把筆毛理成尖形，筆尖朝下掛起來或平放晾乾。也要洗手。

Classroom Activity 1 · 課堂活動一

A Big 永, Out Loud 大大的「永」，邊寫邊唸

You need · 準備材料

  • A brush and a cup of clean water一枝毛筆和一杯清水
  • Old newspaper or a water-writing cloth舊報紙或水寫布
  • A card with the eight old names: 側、勒、努、趯、策、掠、啄、磔一張寫著八法古名的卡片：側、勒、努、趯、策、掠、啄、磔

Steps · 步驟

  1. Write 永 as big as a sheet of newspaper with water, in the correct stroke order.用清水寫一個和報紙一樣大的「永」，照正確筆順。
  2. Say each old name out loud as you write it: cè, lè, nǔ, tì, cè, lüè, zhuó, zhé.寫到哪一法就大聲唸出古名：側、勒、努、趯、策、掠、啄、磔。
  3. Your partner watches the card and checks that the names come in the right order.同學看著卡片，檢查唸的順序對不對。
  4. Write it again more slowly, stopping at each turn to lift, press, and turn.再慢慢寫一次，每個轉角都停下來：提、按、轉。

Saying the names aloud links the movement to the word. Big characters also make students use the whole arm instead of only the fingers.
邊寫邊唸，動作和名字就連在一起了。寫大字也讓學生用整隻手臂，而不是只動手指。

Classroom Activity 2 · 課堂活動二

The Eight-Principle Hunt 八法尋寶

You need · 準備材料

  • A worksheet with these characters: 大、小、木、水、字、心學習單，上面印著：大、小、木、水、字、心
  • Colored pencils: one color for each principle色鉛筆：每一法一個顏色
  • The color key from this lesson's eight cards依照這一課八張卡片做的顏色對照表

Steps · 步驟

  1. Choose one color for each of the eight principles and write the key at the top of the worksheet.八法各選一個顏色，把對照表寫在學習單上方。
  2. Trace each character and color every part with the principle it uses.描寫每一個字，把每一部分塗上它用到的那一法的顏色。
  3. Find the parts that do not match any of the eight exactly, and talk about which principle they are closest to.找出不完全符合八法的部分，討論它最接近哪一法。
  4. Compare with a classmate. Which principle shows up most often?和同學比較：哪一法出現最多次？

There is not always one right answer: many strokes are variations of the eight, so the discussion is the point.
不一定只有一個標準答案：很多筆畫是八法的變化，討論的過程才是重點。

Before and Next · 上一課與下一課

From pressing and lifting to stroke order 從提按到筆順

Lesson 2 · 第二課How Does a Brush Make Thick and Thin Lines?一枝毛筆怎麼寫出粗細？Pressing and lifting, hiding and returning the tip, and the hanging needle: the moves inside every principle.提與按、藏鋒與回鋒、懸針：每一法裡都用得到的動作。Go to the lesson · 前往這一課 →Next Lesson · Lesson 4 · 下一課・第四課Why Do We Write Strokes in Order?筆順與結構：為什麼要先橫後豎？Left to right, top to bottom, horizontal before vertical: the Ministry of Education's rules for which stroke comes first, and why everyone follows the same order.先左後右、先上後下、先橫後豎：教育部的筆順法則，以及為什麼大家照同一套順序寫。Go to the lesson · 前往這一課 →

Sources · 資料出處

Dates, names, places, and facts on this page were checked against these sources (October 2026). · 本頁的年代、人名、地名與事實依下列資料查證（2026 年 10 月）。

  1. The Eight Principles of Yong: the basic types of brush strokes, taken from 永 — 側 (dot), 勒 (horizontal), 努 (vertical), 趯 (hook), 策 (rising stroke), 掠 (left-falling), 啄 (short left-falling on the right), 磔 (right-falling); a simple guide to the dots and strokes of regular script永字八法：書法用筆的基本類型，取「永」字中側（點）、勒（橫）、努（直豎）、趯（鉤）、策（斜書向上）、掠（撇）、啄（右短撇）、磔（捺），當作學習書法正楷點畫的簡要法則教育部《重編國語辭典修訂本》「永字八法」 ↗
  2. Who made it: accounts differ — Wang Xizhi, Cui Ziyu, Zhong Yao, Zhiyong, Zhang Xu出處說法不一：王羲之、崔子玉、鍾繇、智永、張旭維基百科「永字八法」 ↗
  3. English glosses of the old names: bridle (勒), jump (趯), horsewhip (策), skim (掠), peck (啄), tear (磔)古名的英文意思：勒 bridle、趯 jump、策 horsewhip、掠 skim、啄 peck、磔 tearWikipedia, “Eight Principles of Yong” ↗
  4. Zhiyong: a monk of the Chen dynasty in the Southern Dynasties, a seventh-generation descendant of Wang Xizhi; said to have written the Thousand Character Classic in regular and cursive script 800 times智永：南朝陳時高僧，王羲之的第七世孫；相傳曾書《真草千字文》八百本教育部《重編國語辭典修訂本》「智永」 ↗
  5. Zhiyong copied 800 copies and each temple south of the river kept one; ten jars of worn brush tips; the iron threshold; the Grave of Retired Brushes. Zheng Qian practiced on persimmon leaves at Ci'en Temple; Emperor Xuanzong wrote “鄭虔三絕”智永「自臨八百本，散與人間，江南諸寺，各留一本」「禿筆頭十甕」「鐵門限」「退筆冢」；鄭虔借住慈恩寺以柿葉學書、玄宗題「鄭虔三絕」唐・李綽《尚書故實》（維基文庫） ↗
  6. 鐵門限: Zhiyong's doorstep worn through by visitors and covered with iron; from Li Chuo's Shangshu Gushi鐵門限：智永索書者眾，門檻被踏穿，用鐵葉包起；典出唐李綽《尚書故實》教育部《成語典》「鐵門限」 ↗
  7. 臨池學書: it is said that Zhang Zhi of the Eastern Han wrote on the family's cloth and silk, and practiced by a pond until the water turned black (Book of Jin)臨池學書：相傳東漢張芝學書很勤，衣帛先寫字再煮白，臨池學書池水盡黑（《晉書．衛瓘傳》）教育部《成語典》「臨池學書」 ↗
  8. Stroke order of 永: five strokes — dot, horizontal-turn-hook, horizontal-left-falling, left-falling, right-falling「永」的筆順：共 5 畫：點、橫折鉤、橫撇、撇、捺教育部《國字標準字體筆順學習網》「永」 ↗