본고는 衛夫人으로 알려진 東晉時代의 여류서예가 衛鑠(272-349)의 筆陣圖를 연구한 글이다. 필진도는 위부인의 서예이론서로, 예로부터 글씨를 배우는 자들이 기초이론으로 삼았다. 필진도는 楷書의 필수 요소들을 포함하는 學書論 ․ 筆劃論 ․ 筆法論을 담고 있다.
세간에서는 필진도의 眞僞에 대해 논란의 여지가 많았다. 역대 필진도가 수록된 문헌을 살펴보면, 일부 相異한 부분에서는 상통하는 字로 변경되거나 한 두 글자 정도가 빠지고 추가되며 수정된 것을 확인할 수 있다. 이것은 위부인이 필진도를 작성한 후 전해지는 과정에 후대 사람들이 글자를 첨삭한 것으로 보여진다. 다만, 진위여부를 떠나 글자의 상이함에 따른 내용은 별반 차이가 없다.
필진도의 구성은 내용상 學書論, 筆劃論, 筆法論 등으로 구분된다. 學書論에서는 글씨를 쓸 때 사용하는 도구와 집필의 중요성과 집필하는 방법 등에 대해 설명하였다. 筆劃論에서는 주로 ‘근 ․ 골 ․ 육’의 중요성을 피력하였다. 특히 “뼈가 많고 살이 적은 것을 ‘筋書’라 하고, 살이 많고 뼈가 적은 것을 일러 ‘墨猪’라고 한다.”는 말은 후대에도 많이 회자되었다.
또한 글씨를 쓸 때 기본이 되는 일곱 가지 필획을 자연형상에 비유하여 설명함으로써 후대 ‘永字八法’의 모태가 되었다. 아울러 ‘영자팔법’은 서예이론상 매우 창조적인 학설로 남게 되어 필진도는 후대 서예학의 발전에 지대한 영향을 주었다. 왕희지를 비롯한 많은 서가들이 이 이론을 인용하는 등 서예이론 곳곳에서 필진도의 흔적들을 확인할 수 있다.
위부인의 필진도는 서예 본질에 대한 이해와 서예 전통에 대한 철저한 인식을 이해하는 기반을 제공해준다. 그리하여 오늘날까지도 많은 서론에 인용되어 서가들에게 귀감이 되고 있다. 때문에 필진도는 서예의 전통적인 書法論을 이해하는 규범서로서 의의가 있으며, 전통 書論에 대한 인식을 提高하는 데 기여할 것이다.
The Picture of Ink Brush from the Eastern Jin period has become a fundamental for people practicing calligraphy today. Wei Shuo, a renowned female calligrapher often called as madame Wei, is the one to write this. The Picture of Ink Brush contains theories for studying calligraphy, strokes, and style that established consequential rules about the regular script. Therefore, this thesis investigates calligraphy theory on Wei Shuo's The Picture of Ink Brush, and review the criticisms and philosophies of historically famous calligraphers as it will enhance the understandings of practicing calligraphy.
Eastern Jin period was the most chaotic time in Chinese history. Frequent wars among subordinating countries and inner confrontations among dividend parties resulted people to move inland, and it became the central place for economic, and cultural development. In this period, people started to review the art of writing characters which formed the calligraphy theory. Meaning, people started to look upon the written characters as an artistic field to be admired, thus creating and forming calligraphy theories.
However, education was not a desirable virtue for females at this time. Wei too was not allowed to learn and develop her techniques although her family had rich background for calligraphy. In fact, Wei's family had many famous calligraphers such as Wei Ji, Wei Heng, Wei Guan, and much more. When Wei Heng, the uncle of Wei Shuo, saw her secret writings, he changed his mind to allow her to study. At the time, political, economic, and cultural lessons were taught within the family which allowed Wei to absorb the flourishing amount of references and teachings considering Zhong yao, who's still a greatly respected calligrapher, is from her grandfather's generation.
Although there is a debate on whether The Picture of Ink Brush is Wei's work or not, it does not lessen the importance to study about The Picture of Ink Brush. First, despite the debate, it is widely accepted as hers to most scholars. Second, the work itself has tremendously affected today's calligraphy in that it describes strokes and ways to study calligraphy. Third, Wei's theory in The Picture of Ink Brush has been recognized by reviews from critics which helped understand the essence of calligraphy and tradition. All these aspects about The Picture of Ink Brush provides reasons to investigate the work thoroughly.
This study had limits on analyzing the original work since some letters were edited as it was descended down to generations. However, it did not affect the study much since the main contents in the original work remained well. The Picture of Ink Brush clearly affected the latter generations until today, and it should not be underestimated.