The Art of Ancient Chinese

Calligraphy
Name: Regina Best
ID# 0002697
Course Code: ARTH 321
Course Title: History of Design
Tutor: L. Sten-Nicholson
Due Date: November 6, 2014

The art of Ancient Chinese writing has been explored and examined for years as it is one
of the most advanced systems since 1200 BC. The earliest established
evidence is the body of inscriptions on oracle bones from the late Shang
dynasty of 1200-1050 BC. They were records of prophecies performed in
communication with royal ancestral spirits. Ancient Chinese writing was
made up of characters which were basically logograms and were used for
signs in the Yellow River valley, which was a birthplace for ancient Chinese civilizations, from
the Neolithic period through to the Shang period. Most words
were morphosyllabic which means that each syllable in every
word was written with two characters. For example the word
incoming would be broken down into three syllables, income-ing and would therefore be written as two or three characters. There was a close relation
between characters and words.
Ancient Chinese calligraphy was a beautiful visual art used in manuscripts, scrolls and
books. It was written from left to right, top to bottom and was either done as disciplinary
practice focused on writing well or as an art where its creative, divine strokes are simply seen
and appreciated for the aesthetic qualities. As an art, it was seen on some Chinese pottery,
fabrics etc. Chinese calligraphy of ancient times brought ambiance and showcased rhythm, lines
and structure better than the other high forms of Chinese art
which were painting, stringed musical instruments and board
games.

With every passing civilization came new

calligraphic characters with its particular forms and styles.

Jiaguwen (scripts on tortoise shells and animal bones), and pictographic characters (known as

xiangxing zi in Chinese), though with differences in the number of strokes or the degrees of
complexity in like characters, showed the laws of symmetry and balance. Chinese characters
evolved from Jiaguwen, Jinwen to Kaishu (regular hand) and Xingshu (running hand). In the
next period, namely from the Jin Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, the art entered a phase, with
Caoshu (cursive hand), Xingshu (running hand) and Kaishu (regular script) taking the place of
Zhuanshu (seal script) and Lishu (official script) to become the mainstream. (Jessie, n.d.)
The apprentice learnt the exemplary skills, techniques and features of the calligraphy
from their masters who showed them exactly how to write the characters. Whenever they went
to practice they would use all the materials that came with
calligraphy. Those were the basic necessities known as the
Four Treasures of the Study which were the brush, the ink,
the paper and the inkstone.

The oldest member of the

treasures, the brush, was made from bamboo (the handle) and the hairs of animals like the wolf,
pig, rabbit, goat, weasel, badger etc. and this determined the softness or hardness of the brush.
The ink was originally in liquid form made from plant dyes and
minerals like graphite and vermillion until during the Han
Dynasty when inksticks were made. Inksticks were made from
collected soots, powdered herbs and spices/incense and animal
glue, then pressed into shape and allowed to dry. Decorations
were added afterwards. Paper developed in 100 AD was used as
writing material after the use of silks and bamboo slips.

The kind of processed paper

(unprocessed-soft, half-processed-medium or processed-stiff) determined how well the ink was

absorbed. The inkstone was a tool made from fine whetstone and used to grind the inkstick into

powder by rubbing the inkstick against its surface with slightly salted water in the well of the
stone. This became popular as the use of the mortar and pestle died down. Other tools used
were the seal and seal paste for signing the work, desk pads for absorption and guidance and
paperweigths to keep the paper in place. Traditional calligraphy was down in black ink only and
ancient Chinese would also practice writing calligraphy on the ground outdoors with a large
brush and water.
Ancient Chinese calligraphy became Oriental art as the Chinese influenced Japan, Korea
and Singapore through trade and travel along the Silk Road and by sea.
Chinese calligraphy is well established around the world and is either
used as it is or elements from it are taken and incorporated into modern
designs and other artworks. Traditional Chinese calligraphy has been
simplified and even adapted for electronic use. This topic reminded me of text or typographical
design as it can be used to create logotypes and monograms among other designs.

Bibliography
Jessie. (n.d.). History of Chinese Calligraphy. Retrieved from China Culture:
http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_madeinchina/2005-11/11/content_75739.htm
http://www.chaos.umd.edu/history/ancient1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Treasures_of_the_Study
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_characters