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Calligraphy Scripts/StylesIn the 4000 year history of Chinese written language, the various scripts and styles have evolved and deformed throughout time. Nowadays, it is generally acknowledged that there are five major scripts/styles of Chinese calligraphy. Actually, many different types of script have existed in Chinese history, notably before Qin dynasty. Scripts from before the Qin dynasty were either very different from scripts after the Qin dynasty, or they just didn't last very long. Therefore, we have categorized all scripts before Qin in "Zhuan Shu". After Zhuan Shu, we have Li Shu, Cao Shu, Kai Shu, and Xing Shu. 1.Zhuan Shu Generally, we can call all of the scripts before the Qin dynasty "Zhuan Shu". This is because there were too many different, but similar styles in the old ages. Jia Gu Wen, Da Zhuan, and Xiao Zhuan are all included in Zhuan Shu. - Jia Gu Wen (Shell/Bone Script) Jia Gu Wen is the oldest Chinese calligraphy known, which was used by Chinese ancients during the Yin dynasty (2100 B.C.-1600 B.C.). It is the oldest Chinese written language that historians have ever found. Paper had yet to be invented during the age of Jia Gu Wen. Therefore, words were carved on bones and turtleback. In Chinese, Jia means "tortoise shells" and Gu means "bone". - Da Zhuan Usually by Da Zhuan, we mean Zhou Wen or Jin Wen. During this period, there was no standard for scripts yet. Therefore, we call all of these scripts Da Zhuan. - Zhou Wen It has been said that an emperor during the Zhou dynasty (827 B.C.- 782 B.C.) created Zhou Wen. - Jin Wen (Bronze Engraving) Jin Wen was carved on bronze ware during the Shang (2100 B.C.-1600 B.C.) and Zhou dynasty (1600 B.C.- 221 B.C.). - Xiao Zhuan Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor to unite China, defeated all of his rivals in 221 B.C. Soon after his victory, he devised a new standard written language, Xiao Zhuan, to unify China and replace the scripts which were previously used in his newly-conquered lands. 2.Li Shu (first official style) Xiao Zhuan was the official written language during the Qin dynasty (221 B.C. - 206 B.C.). It could not be written efficiently, so a simplified script, "Li Shu", became popular in the Han dynasty (206 B.C. -265 A.D.), and became the official written language of Han. 3.Cao Shu (cursive style) Cao Shu first emerged in the Han dynasty. Cao Shu was a simplified script of Li Shu. Cao Shu can be separated into two styles, Zhang Cao and Jin Cao. Zhang Cao is closer to Li Shu, having many similar strokes. Jin Cao is more of an art than a writing script. It was extremely deformed from the original Li Shu. It is said Jin Cao was created by Zhang Zhi, the Cao God. 4.Kai Shu (regular style) Kai Shu is the most common and popular Chinese calligraphy style to date. It is usually the first calligraphy style which beginners learn. In Chinese, Kai means the standard. Kai Shu evolved from Li Shu, and the rules of writing are strict. The shape of Kai Shu is primarily square, and he strokes are straighter. Kai Shu emerged towards the end of the Han dynasty (173 A.D.). Kai Shu became the official written language, and still is today. - Wei Bei Wei Bei was a special school of Kai Shu during the Bei Wei dynasty. It taught the art of making inscriptions on steles (stone slabs). 5.Xing Shu (running style) Kai Shu is easy to read, and Cao Shu is easy to write but hard to read. Xing Shu is a script which has the advantage of having both Cao Shu and Kai Shu influence. It is easy to write and not too difficult to read. The Major Chinese Calligraphy Styles
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