The Symbol of Chinese Dog                                                                              大俗山翁

A lesson of Chinese calligraphy & painting in year of DOG 2018 

The Cycle of zodiac animals: 

The cycle of animals is the most popular symbol system which is a circle of 12 emblematic animals that correspond to the 12 Early Branches. Each lunar year is connected to an animal. Using characteristics that are perceived to be an inherent part of the nature of these animals. Each year attributes certain aspects to the personality, temperament and behavior of people born at this year. This system operates in similar way as Western astrology.

The DOG ranks 11 of the 12 animals in Chinese Zodiac chart. It follows year of Rooster and is ahead year of Pig. 

Years of DOG

1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018..... 

Hour of DOG 

Xu (戌) indicates hour from 19:00~20:59 

The Dog's Personality

Positive aspects: Caring, intelligent, loyal, reliable, helpful, unselfish, devoted, persevering, resourceful, honest, deep. 

Negative aspects: Anxious, pessimistic, nervous, cynical, withdrawn. 

Control of Chinese brush: How to write the 8 basic strokes

Press down (stronger line), lift up (thinner line).  

<犬>乃象形文字，源於甲骨。<狗>乃形聲字。說文解字兼收二字並相通用。說文：狗，叩也，叩氣吠以守。因此狗與人類關係密切並忠於護守家園。

【編者語】

山翁兄善書畫篆刻，並能融會中西，此文為不懂華文小朋友而寫，將用於工作坊或講座，今刊於本期會訊實為首次嘗試。 

書畫除可觀賞外，亦可用於商業上。山翁兄於丙戌狗年曾寫一狗字賀歲（下左二圖），其意念成為丁戌狗年某機構之賀年廣告（下右圖，機構名稱移去），我亦記得曾將廣告剪下送給山翁兄。

今年校友會新年團拜，山翁兄亦為大會書寫揮春二十張，給會場添增新年氣氛。

談到篆刻時，山翁兄傳來其友何大笨先生（Mr. Mike Harty）狗年泥印圖一款，謂：「他這樣刻用了借靠邊旁的手法，巧妙地仿效兩個並肩作戰的戰士在前進衝鋒！」經山翁兄指點，鑑賞力又有所提升。