This will explain about the introduction about the Chinese calligraphy and it's various styles.

1. Chinese Calligraphy
Alvaro Flores – 115120990024
Darpan Agarwal – 115120990017
Karolina Vukojicic – 115120990046
Darko Smilevski - 115120990129
Romy Gingras - 115120990009
Borislav Blagoev - 115120990160

2. Introduction about Chinese
Calligraphy

3. • Calligraphy derived from a Greek word
meaning beautiful writing.
• The earliest extant examples of Chinese
writing are the inscriptions on oracle
bones and on bronze vessels, which
dates back to the Shang Dynasty.
• It originated approx. 4600 years ago.
• Wang Xian Zhi was a very famous
calligrapher. One of his most famous
calligraphy is Lan Ting Xu

4. • It is an art practice which manifests
specific thinking style, personality ,
temperament(性情) and inclination(癖
好）
• Chinese Calligraphy was revered in
the Chinese cultural sphere, which
often includes Japan, Taiwan, Korea,
Vietnam.
• Calligraphy is one of the four basic skills
and disciplines of the Chinese literati,
together with painting (hua), stringed
musical instruments (qin) and board
games (qi).

5. Popularity of Chinese calligraphy

6. Four treasures
文房四宝
• Four treasures are used
in Chinese and other
East Asian calligraphic
traditions and painting
• Chengyu stands for
brush, ink stick, paper
and ink stone

7. Brush 笔
• Brushes are made from animal hair; brush
handles are constructed from bamboo,
sandalwood, jade
• Different brushes are used for different
styles of calligraphy and writing – specific
ink capacity, distinct brush strokes
• The most famous brushes are a mix of
yellow weasel, goat and rabbit hair, known
as Hubi (Zhejiang)

8. Ink stick 墨
• The ink stick is the unique pigment used for
Chinese traditional painting and calligraphy
• Modern ink sticks are made of glue, soot,
and spice mixture, which is then pressed
into shape and allowed to dry
• Best ink sticks are often decorated with
poems, calligraphy, painted, and highly
collectable

9. Paper 纸
• Paper is one of the most famous Chinese
inventions, invented by Cai Lun in 105
• The quality of the paper depends on the
processing methods used to produce it
• The highest valued paper is Xuanzhi
(Anhui) - soft, fine-textured, moth
resistant, has a high tensile strength and
remarkable longevity

10. Ink stone 砚
• Ink stone is used to grind the ink stick
into powder, which is then mixed with
water (slightly salty) in order to
produce usable ink for calligraphy
• The earliest known ink stones date
back to the Han dynasty, but the
production of ink stones reached its
zenith in the Tang and Song dynasties –
they became works of art

11. Styles of Chinese
Calligraphy

12. 篆書 Zuan Style (Seal Style)
• The unification of Zuan Shu was in the
Chin Dynasty
• Solid and stable（结实稳定）
• Small Seal Style (Tablet Shiao Zuan 小
篆)
• Great Seal Style (Da Zuan 大 篆 )
Lan Ye Tai ( 琅 琊 臺 ) & Tai San ( 泰 山 ) Tablets

13. 隸書:Li Style(Clerical Style)
• germinated in the pre-Chin period ( 先秦
時代 ).
• simplified the complicated strokes of
Zuan Shu.
• used a bend （弯）instead of making a
roundabout turn
Chin Li on bamboo rolls

14. 草書Tsao Style(Running Style)
• It was developed almost at the same
time with Li Shu
• the most simplified
• abstract and difficult
• "the Two Wangs"
( 二 王 )

15. 行書 Hsin Style(Walking Style)
• A style in between Tsao and Kai Styles
• established in the Han Dynasty
• write fast，freely expressed
• Hsin Tsao Shu ( 行 草 書 )
• Hsin Kai Shu ( 行 楷 書 ).
Zhong Yao’s work in Hsin Kai Shu

16. 楷書Kai Style(Standard Style)
• Initiated（创始）toward
the end of the Han
Dynasty. （by 王次仲）
• symmetrical strokes （笔
划整齐对称）
• A reference standard for
modern Chinese
characters handwriting,
also develop another
handwriting —— pen
writing.
• Marks the final shape of
Chinese characters.
Madame Wei’s small-scale Kai Shu

17. Interview with
Daniele Caccin
Assitant of Calligraphy Master

18. Q: “What is your favourite calligraphy style?”
• CURSIVE
• With the most different aesthetic
aspects
• Abstract – Made of simple lines
• High aesthetic requirements
Q: “What does calligraphy mean for Chinese
Culture?”
• Started in Han dynasty (research the origin of characters)
• Most ancient – Shang Dynasty
• Everywhere in Chinese society

19. Q: “Evolution of calligraphy over the past
century?”
• Beginning of 20th Century 
simplification of characters
• Development of traditional
Chinese calligraphy by calligraphy
masters, such as MAO ZEDONG
and QIGONG
Q: “Important set phrase”
• 知识无涯 : Knowledge are boundless
• Zhuangzi: Chinese collection of anecdotes and fables

20. Q: “What skillset do you need to become a
calligraphy master, and how long can it take?”
• Very difficult and long route
• Many years to master the most important calligraphy copybooks
• A lot of practice
• Reading of classical books
• Around 20 years to become a very good master

21. CONCLUSION
• One of the best ways to
understand Chinese Culture
• High difficulty level
• Calligraphy Masters are highly
valued in the society
• Led to the development of many
forms of art, such as
• Seal carving
• Ornate paperweights
• Ink stones
“Calligraphy is sheer life experienced through energy in
motion that is registered as traces on silk or paper, with time
and rhythm in shifting space its main ingredients.”

22. Thank you!
陈洁薇
卫婧
王俊苏
晏红鸿