Section 3: Performance Techniques
Adapt
The performers (strokes) are also very versatile. They can transform themselves by changing the size of their formation (character) or by changing the length of performer (stroke).
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a) Types of Size Adaptation
See how each character can change its size by slimming down, flattening or shrinking itself.
1. Flatten
2. Slim down
3. Shrink
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When a character flattens, there is a big change in height but little or no change in width.
When a character slims down, there is a big change in width but little or no change in height.
When a character shrinks, both its height and width change.
ABC3: Adapt, Balance, Centre
The third set of ABC (Adapt, Balance and Centre) in Triple ABCs Concept explains how the strokes (performers) should perform so that aesthetic requirements of Chinese characters (formations) could be met.
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Adapt
a) Size Adaptation
b) Stroke Adaptation
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Bonding
a) Symmetry
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Crossing
a) Circle
b) Shape
The Box Stage
Box Stage
The performers perform on a square stage. They have to cooperate with other performers to create a beautiful formation within this limited space. They have to learn to adapt, balance and centre themselves so that the formation will look good.
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Imaginery Lines
The job is not easy so the performers have to find some ways to help themselves. During rehearsals, the performers will train with lines strung across the stage so they know the exact positions they have to be.
In actual performance, these lines have to be removed so performers have to imagine these lines in their mind. These are called the Imaginery Lines.
Worksheets
Basic Structures
Similar to creating formations on a box stage, Chinese characters are created within a square box. The dotted lines (imaginery lines) in the box divide the square box into different spaces. Here are the basic structures of characters.
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Use of Structures
If you know the structure of a Chinese character, it will help you to:
1. Allocate sufficient space for different parts,
2. Position the strokes more accurately and
3. Gauge the centre of the character more accurately.
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Fitting into Structures
Observe how the characters fit into these structures so that they look balanced and centred.
Notice how the strokes align to the ‘imaginery lines’
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b) Types of Stroke Adaptation
See how versatile this character is. Observe how it makes
a) Size Adaptation or
b) Stroke Adaptation or
c) Both
to fit into different characters.
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Balance
To create a formation (character) that is stable and aesthetically pleasing, there should be symmetry of parts and alignment of strokes to the imaginery lines.
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Symmetry
1. Symmetrical Characters
2. Mostly Symmetrical Characters
3. Non-Symmetrical Characters
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English alphabets in the previous activity have bilateral symmetry or reflection symmetry. The line of symmetry is usually the horizontal or vertical line that divides the letter into top and bottom or left and right symmetrically—one side is the mirror image of the other side.
If Chinese characters are classified according to their appearance, there are basically three types of classification:
1. Symmetrical
2. Mostly Symmetrical
3. Non-Symmetrical
If the characters are symmetrical or mostly symmetrical, make sure that the symmetrical parts are balanced when writing.
