What is the origin of Chinese calligraphy？
2 min readThe origin of Chinese calligraphy is not very precise.Chinese writing originated approximately 4，500 years ago.It is thought that the written language began with ancient pictures，representing exactly what they looked alike.It is thought that calligraphy came after the invention of the language.Early periods of Chinese history reveal that calligraphy was viewed as a matchless and independent visual art form rather than a mere ornamental art.The lines of the Oracle Bone Script seem thin，stiff and straight.The lines of the Bronze Script seem thick，and characters are well-rounded in form.Primitive calligraphic works were inscribed on bones or pieces of pottery by sharp tools-a sort of metal brush，or“hard”brush as the Chinese say.
How does a Chinese scholar appreciate Chinese calligraphy？
Calligraphy is an art dating back to the earliest days of history，and it is widely practiced throughout China to these days.Although it uses Chinese words as its tool of expression，one does not have to know Chinese to appreciate its beauty.
As of all the arts in China，the fundamental inspiration of calligraphy，is from nature.The medium of all the graphic arts is line-straight and line-curved or combinations of straight and curved lines.Chinese people value calligraphy for thesake of harmonious nature of its lines or groups of lines，strokes are deliberately formed in direct imitation of a natural object，and the Chinese brush effectively reproduces the movements of clouds and trees.
Chinese calligraphy should be beautifully executed in form for its aesthetic sense.Perfect harmony between mind and hand is required for Chinese calligraphy.At the moment of writing，an artist exerts his emotional energy to vitalize the harmony and reveal great refinement.
Principles of beauty in calligraphy include asymmetrical balance，momentum，dynamic posture，simplicity，suggestiveness，imagination and universality.These aesthetic principles govern the composition of Chinese characters and reflect the basic ideals of the Chinese mind in the fine arts.
Dou Meng of the Tang Dynasty（618-907）described different styles of calligraphy，and these have been regarded as criteria for the appreciation of Chinese calligraphy. Some of criteria say as follows:A work of ability presents a thousand possibilities.
