Introduction to calligraphy types

The types of calligraphy can be roughly divided into positive, cursive, official, seal and line forms.

Official script: also known as "regular script" and "real script". Its characteristics are: square shape, straight strokes, can be used as a model, hence the name. Began in the Eastern Han Dynasty. There are many famous regular script writers, such as Ou Ti (Ou Yangxun), Yu Ti (Yu Shinan), Yan Ti (Yan Zhenqing), Liu Ti (Liu Gongquan) and Zhao Ti (attached).

Cursive script: a font produced for the convenience of writing. It began in the early Han Dynasty. At that time, it was "Cao Li", that is, scribbled official script, which gradually developed into a kind of "Cao Zhang" with artistic value. Before the Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhi changed "Cao Zhang" to "modern grass", and the character style was formed in one stroke. In the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Xu and Huai Su developed into "weeds", with continuous strokes and changeable glyphs.

Official script: also known as "official characters" and "ancient books". It is a font produced on the basis of seal script to meet the needs of convenient writing. The seal script is simplified, and the uniform circle lines of the seal script are changed into straight strokes, which is convenient for writing. Official script can be divided into "Qin Li" (also called "Guli") and "Han Li" (also called "Golden Calendar"). The appearance of official script is a great change in ancient writing and calligraphy.

Seal script: it is a general term for big seal script and small seal script. Dazhuan refers to Oracle Bone Inscriptions, Jinwen, Zhangwen and Six Kingdoms, which preserve the obvious features of ancient hieroglyphics. Dazhuan, also known as "Qin Zhuan", is the common language of Qin. The simplified font of Dazhuan is characterized by uniform and neat shape, which is easier to write than Zhuan. In the development history of Chinese characters, it is the transition between seal script and official script.

Running script: a font between regular script and cursive script. It is to make up for the shortcomings of slow writing in regular script and illegible cursive script. The brushwork is not as sloppy as cursive script, and it is not required to be as correct as regular script. There are more methods of mold opening than cursive writing, which is called "mold opening". Cursive calligraphy is more than modular method, which is called "cursive calligraphy". Running script began in Han dynasty.

Big seal script, small seal script, official script, regular script, cursive script and running script are several important stages in the development of Chinese characters. However, as the art of calligraphy, it has been handed down, forming many schools, and there are many unique masters with rich and colorful artistic treasures.