弘一法师对于书法是用过苦功的。在夏丏尊先生那里,见到他许多习字的成绩,各体的碑帖他都临摹,写什么像什么。这大概由于他画过西洋画的缘故。西洋画的基本练习是木炭素描,一条线条,一笔烘托,都得和摆在面前的实物不差分毫。经过这样训练的手腕和眼力,运用起来自然能够十分准确,达到得心应手的境界。于是写什么像什么了。艺术的事情大都始于摹仿,终于独创。不摹仿打不起根基,摹仿一辈子,就没有了自我,只好永远追随人家的脚后跟。但是不用着急,凭真诚的态度去摹仿的,自然而然会有蜕化的一天。从摹仿中蜕化出来,艺术就得到了新的生命一 Master Hongyi used hard work for calligraphy. In Mr. Xia Zunzun there, to see him a lot of copybook grades, each of the rubbings he copy, what to write like. This is probably because he painted the Western art sake. Western painting is the basic practice of charcoal drawings, a line, a contrast, have to be placed in front of the physical is not different. After such training of the wrist and eyesight, the use of natural can be very accurate, to reach the handy realm. So what to write like something. Most of the art of things began in imitation, and finally original. Not imitation can not afford to play a fundamental imitation of a lifetime, there is no ego, had to follow people’s heels forever. But do not hurry, with a sincere attitude to imitate, of course, there will be a degenerate day. Degenerated from the imitation, art has got a new life