The investigation and recording of contemporary Taiwanese calligraphers: the Ink Trend Association and Xu Yong-jin

The aim of this thesis is both to highlight the intrinsic value and uniqueness of the traditional Chinese character and to provide an analysis of contemporary Taiwanese calligraphy. This project uses both the thesis and the film documentary to analyse and record the achievement of the calligraphic art of the first contemporary Taiwanese calligraphy group, the Ink Trend Association, and the major Taiwanese calligrapher, Xu Yong-jin. The significance of the recording of the work of the Ink Trend Association and Xu Yong-jin lies not only in their skills in executing Chinese calligraphy, but also in how they broke with tradition and established a contemporary Taiwanese calligraphy. The documentary is one of the methods used to record history. Art documentaries are in a minority in Taiwan, and especially documentaries that explore calligraphy. This project recorded the Ink Trend Association and Xu Yong-jin over a period of five years. It aims to help scholars researching Chinese culture to cherish the beauty of the Chinese character, that they may endeavour to protect it from being sacrificed on the altar of political power, and that more research in this field may be stimulated.