Youliu

Youliu (simplified Chinese: 酉流; traditional Chinese: 酉流; pinyin: Yǒu liú) refers to a specific style or technique within Chinese calligraphy, often associated with running script (行書, xíngshū) and cursive script (草書, cǎoshū). It is characterized by its fluid, unrestrained, and often rapidly executed strokes.

While not a formally defined sub-style like Song style (宋體, Sòngtǐ) or Wei Bei (魏碑, Wèi bēi), "Youliu" suggests a calligraphic approach that emphasizes momentum and a sense of continuous movement. The characters rendered in this style may exhibit significant connection between individual strokes, often appearing as if the brush is flowing without lifting.

The term's etymology is not directly tied to a specific historical figure or school of calligraphy. The characters themselves suggest "flowing from the you (酉) branch," which in the traditional Chinese sexagenary cycle represents the tenth earthly branch, associated with the element of metal and the direction West. However, the connection between this astrological or directional significance and the calligraphic style is not definitively established. The "You" might symbolically represent a specific phase or stage in the execution of a character, leading to the "flow" (Liu).

Hallmarks of a "Youliu" approach might include:

• Connected Strokes: Reduced lifting of the brush, resulting in linked or merged strokes between characters and within individual characters.
• Dynamic Energy: A sense of kinetic energy and speed conveyed through the strokes.
• Simplified Forms: Sometimes a degree of simplification in character structure, prioritized for speed and flow.
• Expressiveness: Emphasis on conveying the calligrapher's emotion and inner state during the writing process.

"Youliu" is often encountered as a descriptive term rather than a formal classification. A calligrapher's work might be described as "having a Youliu tendency" if it exhibits the characteristics described above. Therefore, its usage is often subjective and open to interpretation.