Chinese Calligraphy

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Chinese calligraphy（Brush calligraphy）is an art unique to the world.Regarded as the most abstract and sublime form of art in Chinese culture，calligraphy is often thought to be most revealing of one’s personality.Unlike other visual art techniques，all calligraphy strokes are permanent and incorrigible，demanding careful planning and confident execution.

While one has to conform to the defined structure of words，the expression can be extremely creative.To exercise humanistic imagination and touch under the faceless laws and regulations is also a virtue well appreciated.

Chinese calligraphy can function as self-enjoyment and also self-cultivation.Calligraphy is known for its beautifulshape，rich emotion and artistic conception.Chinese calligraphy is not only a splendid flower in the garden of the Chinese culture，but also a shining pearl in the treasure-house of arts of human beings.

1.1The History of Calligraphy Calligraphy dates back to the middle and late ShangDynasty.It is accepted that Oracle Bone Script（see Figure 71）（2000BC-？）and Bronze Engraving （see Figure 72）（770-21BC）has the beauty of calligraphy，and can first be called calligraphy.

Oracle Bone Script is the characters scripted in bones of animals or tortoise shells，while Bronze Engraving is scripted in bronze objects.

During the Qin Dynasty，a unification of script happened after the unification of China.And Xiao Zhuan（221 BC-220 AD）was adopted to standard the script in the whole country.

It was not until the Han Dynasty that Calligraphy had its critical development.According to the prelude in An Analytical Dictionary of Chinese Characters ：“In the Qin Dynasty calligraphy had 8 styles:Da Zhuan ，Xiao Zhuan ，Ke Fu ，Chong Shu ，Mo Yin ，Shu Shu ，Shu and LiShu.” And the last one Li Shu （25-220AD）is very important style in the calligraphy history.It was firstly generally used in the Han Dynasty，and Cao Shu and Xing Shu developed with its maturity.Kai Shu ，too，came into being at that time.