Regular Script is the newest type of script and is still being used today. It is derived from Clerical Script (ZhenZhong). Square shape and straight strokes are two of the main features of Regular Script. Regular Script has very strict rules, which makes it to be the most complex type of script. This is the reason why either novices or adept calligraphers all choose to study Regular Script.
Example of Regular Script
Thousand Character Classic written by Zhi Yong in Regular Script is a famous representative for Regular Script and is widely chosen for novices to study. The Chinese characters in this work were neatly written and arranged in order. The characters are of the same thickness throughout the writing. Although this is calligraphy work combines Regular Script and Semi-cursive Script, it still follows the rule of Regular Script.
Thousand Character Classic Written by Zhi Yong
Cursive Script was originated in Han Dynasty (Zhenzhong). Characters written in Cursive Script lost their original shape, for some of the strokes might be connected and there is a special rule of turning original shapes into cursive shapes (Zhenzhong). Cursive has higher writing efficiency than other fonts, but is difficult for unfamiliar people to recognize.
Example of Cursive Script
Four Poems was written by a calligrapher called Xu Zhang. The general characters are wild, flow and thick. The contrast between the thickness of strokes is very significant; so does the variation in density of the characters. No order can be found in the planning of this work, but the connection between the characters is very smooth.
Four Poems Written by Zhang Xu
Clerical Script was formed during Han Dynasty from Small Seal Script (Zhenzhong). The shapes of Clerical Script are rectangular and flat, with long horizontal paintings and short vertical paintings. Within each character, there is always one stroke that is the boldest. The establishment of Clerical Script marked the iconicity of Chinese characters to be destructed and the transition from ancient writing to the modern writing system (Zhenzhong).
Example of Seal Script
Cao Quan Stele is one of the most classic Clerical Script artworks. The characters in Cao Quan Stele are arranged neatly with their position and the combination of light and heavy strokes. Their general shapes are wide and flat but vary widely in their centers and the main pen(the heaviest stroke in each character). Since Cao Quan Stele is well-preserved, it was widely revered and studied.
Cao Quan Stele
Seal script is an ancient type of script. It was mainly used in Zhou Dynasty and Qin Dynasty (Zhenzhong). There are two types of seal script: Large Seal Script and Small Seal Script. In terms of Large Seal Script, its definition is more generalized. It includes all types of scripts that appeared before the emergence of Small Seal Script. In the historic perspective, the Large Seal Script is what the small countries used before they were conquered by Qin Dynasty (Zhenzhong). Therefore, there is no universal standard of Large Seal Script. However, Small Seal Script emerged after Qin Dynasty unified all the small countries and tribes. This decision was very beneficial, for it not only allowed people from different regions to understand each other but also improved the writing efficiency at that time. Large Seal Script characters are very complex, and the shapes that the characters formed are rectangular. Compared to the Large Seal Script, Small Seal Script was simplified; it also looks rectangular, and its strokes are more symmetrical and balanced.
Example of Seal Script
Yishan Bei, also known as Stele of Mount Yi, was written by a man in Qin Dynasty called Si Li ("Yishan Bei"). This man is the creator of the Small Seal Script. It can be seen from this work that Li Si's calligraphy is strong and smooth. The characters have round lines, a well-proportioned structure, and a uniform thickness of stippling ("Yishan Bei"). Stele of Mount Yi is acknowledged as a masterpiece of Small Seal Script and was studied by countless people ("Yishan Bei").
Stele of Mount Yi Written by Li Si
Semi-cursive script was produced around 353CE (Zhenzhong). It was one of the most useful scripts in history since it is very similar to the running hand in our daily writing, which means that writing tasks could be done more efficiently. The representative calligraphy work of semi-cursive script is Lanting Xu, written by a famous calligrapher called Wang Xizhi. He is praised as the best calligrapher of semi-cursive script.
Example of Semi-cursive Script
Lanting Xu was improvised by Wang Xizhi during a meeting with his friends. Lanting is the name of where the gathering took place; Xu means a preface about the activities those people enjoyed on that day. This work is famous for its delicate use of brush and the amazing structure of the Chinese characters. It reflects the massive accumulation of one’s calligraphy skill and one’s profound understanding of calligraphy. Unfortunately, this masterpiece can hardly be excelled – even Wang himself! According to a most prevailed version of a story, the day after Wang composed Lanting Xu, he decided to rewrite this work, for he thought corrections might affect the complicity and appearance of the work; however, when he started to rewrite the Chinese characters, he could not get into the best status of writing. His second version might be good-looking as well but was incomparable to his first version. As time went on, Lanting Xu was more revered by people, including one of the emperors of Tang Dynasty. He loved Wang Xizhi so much that he ordered his attendants to bury Lanting Xu together with him when he died. Since then, Lanting Xu was covered with mystery. Copies of Lanting Xu we saw these days were all copied from the original work.
Lanting Xu Written by Wang Xizhi