A Narrative on Calligraphy by Sun Guoting Revised and Enchanced Edition 英譯書譜 增訂‪版‬

A Narrative on Calligraphy (Shu Pu, 書譜) was written in 687AD by the renowned Tang dynasty calligrapher Sun Guoting (孫過庭, 648-703AD) and is often regarded today to be one of the most important narratives in examining the traditional art of Chinese calligraphy. Yet, there is currently no satisfactory English translation of it. This book provides readers an accurate, annotated, fluent, and line-by-line English translation of A Narrative on Calligraphy. Furthermore, various major and fundamental mistakes found in the two previous English translations by Chang & Frankel and De Laurentis are detailed and discussed. As well, the book contains a short critique, written in Chinese, on the myriad misinterpretations made in the prevalent vernacular Chinese interpretation by Ma Guoquan (馬國權).This is the first book in decades that delivers a concise, consistent and complete interpretation of A Narrative on Calligraphy.About the Authors:Kwan Sheung Vincent Poon (潘君尚, 1979-) is a teacher and a Chinese calligrapher. He graduated from the University of Toronto (BSc,CMF,BEd,MSc). At the age of six, he started his study in Chinese calligraphy under the tutelage of his father Kwok Kin POON. In 2013, he began his translation of numerous classical Chinese calligraphy masterpieces such as Lanting Xu (蘭亭序), Autobiography of Huai Su (懷素自叙帖), etc. Kwok Kin Poon (潘國鍵, 1949- ) is a historian, a teacher, a Chinese calligrapher as well as a columnist. He graduated from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (BA,MPh,DipEd), the University of Hong Kong (MA,PhD), and the University of Toronto (MEd). His major publications include The Northern Wei State and Juan-juan Nomadic Tribe (《北魏與蠕蠕關係研究》), Exhibition of Chinese Calligraphy by Kwok Kin POON (《潘國鍵書法展覽》), Kwok Kin’s Calligraphy (《國鍵書法》), Selected Works of Kwok Kin’s Paintings (《國鍵畫選》), and A Collection of Kwok Kin’s Newspaper Columns (《國鍵文集》), etc.


About the authors:

Kwan Sheung Vincent Poon (潘君尚, 1979-) was born in Hong Kong and studied at Ying Wa College as well as the University of Toronto, where he completed his BSc, MSc and BEd degrees. Being the top undergraduate in Biochemistry, he published numerous biochemistry research papers and is currently a teacher at the Toronto District School Board. His passion for Chinese culture began at the age of six when he started studying Chinese calligraphy under his father Kwok Kin POON (潘國鍵, PhD). His books include A Narrative on Calligraphy by Sun Guoting (英譯書譜), English Translation of Classical Chinese Calligraphy Masterpieces (英譯法書), as well as An English Translation and the Correct Interpretation of Laozi's Tao Te Ching (英譯並正解老子道德經).


Kwok Kin Poon (潘國鍵, 1949- ) was born in Guangzhou, raised in Hong Kong, and now resides in Toronto. He graduated from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (BA, MPh, DipEd), the University of Hong Kong (MA, PhD), and OISE University of Toronto (MEd).  He studied Chinese history under Professor YAN Gengwang (嚴耕望), Chinese calligraphy under his grandfather TSE Hay (謝熙), and Chinese painting under RONG Shushi (容漱石).  Dr. POON is a seasoned teacher, historian, calligrapher, columnist, and has held exhibitions in Hong Kong and Canada.  His publications include《北魏與蠕蠕關係研究》,《國鍵文集》, 《潘國鍵書法集》,《國鍵畫選》, 《孫過庭書譜白話對譯》,《寫在信仰荊途上》,《年在耳順》, etc.. He also co-authored with KS Vincent POON A Narrative on Calligraphy by Sun Guoting (英譯書譜), English Translation of Classical Chinese Calligraphy Masterpieces (英譯法書), and An English Translation and the Correct Interpretation of Laozi's Tao Te Ching (英譯並正解老子道德經).