The Brief History of Chinese Calligraphy
In the sea of Chinese characters, there is a character called "da(龘)," which can be called "the most sophisticated brushwork". It is composed of three traditional "dragon（龙）" characters, as many as 51 strokes. Its complexity is staggering. The word is rarely used in daily life, but it is like a mysterious symbol, carrying the respect and reverence of the dragon in Chinese culture. Chinese calligraphy has experienced a long and wonderful evolution from simple symbols to such complex characters. Chinese calligraphy is not only the art of writing beautiful characters but also a precious window into Chinese culture and history. Through calligraphy, we can explore the ancient people's thoughts and feelings, aesthetic concepts, and the changes in social styles.
(1) The Birth of Calligraphy in the Shang Dynasty
During the Shang Dynasty (1600 -1046 BC), the appearance of oracle bone scripts marked the germination of Chinese calligraphy. At that time, the oracle bone script was primarily used for religious and divination activities. During divination, sorcerers（巫师） would inscribe questions on turtle shells or animal bones and then interpret the will of the gods by observing the cracks formed after heating the bones. Although these oracle bone scripts may seem simple, they contain immense artistic charm. Each stroke is strong and forceful, with clean and crisp lines, and the structure of the characters is well-arranged, showing a primitive and simple beauty. They are like ancient historical books, silently narrating the social conditions, people's beliefs, and living conditions of the Shang Dynasty.
(2) The Prosperity of Calligraphy in Various Dynasties
Zhou Dynasty（1046 - 221 BC）: The inscriptions on bronze vessels during the Zhou Dynasty were an important symbol of the aristocratic culture. These inscriptions, often engraved on bronze wares such as ding(鼎:a type of ancient Chinese cauldron) and gui (簋:a ritual food vessel), were used to record significant events, commend achievements, or worship ancestors. The strokes of these inscriptions were more delicate and round, and the characters were dignified and stable, reflecting the strictness of the Zhou Dynasty's ritual system and the elegant taste of the aristocratic class. For example, the famous Mao Gong Ding Inscription has numerous characters, with regular fonts and neat rows, each character as if meticulously carved, showcasing the prosperity of the Zhou Dynasty's culture.
Qin Dynasty（221 BC - 206 BC）: At the end of the Zhou Dynasty, the seven kingdoms competed. After Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, he implemented the "unification of writing" policy, adopting the seal script(Zhuanshu 篆书) as the standardized font for the entire country. The characteristics of seal script are regular strokes, symmetry, and rigorous structure. Its lines are smooth and round, resembling jade chopsticks, giving a sense of elegance and solemnity. The standardization of the seal script played a crucial role in unifying the national script, promoting cultural exchange, and the unified management of the country. For example, the inscriptions on the stones of the Qin Dynasty, such as Tai Mountain Inscription（《泰山刻石》） and Yi Mountain Inscription（《峄山刻石》）, have regular seal script characters and a grand momentum, demonstrating the grand unification of the Qin Dynasty.
Han Dynasty（206 BC - 220 AD）: The Han Dynasty was a period of vigorous development for clerical script(Lishu 隶书). The emergence of clerical script was a significant transformation in the history of calligraphy, simplifying the strokes and structure of seal script, and making writing more convenient and faster. The strokes of the clerical script have a distinct undulation, resembling the heads of silkworms and the tails of swallows, rich in rhythm and decorativeness. This font was widely used in official documents and inscriptions during the Han Dynasty, greatly promoting the spread of culture. For example, famous Han Dynasty steles such as Zhang Qian Stele（《张迁碑》） and Cao Quan Stele（《曹全碑》 have different styles, some simple and heavy, others elegant and graceful, fully displaying the artistic charm of clerical script.
Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties（220 AD - 589 AD）: This period was an important stage for the diversification, maturation, and formation of the theoretical system of calligraphy. Various styles of calligraphy flourished, and many outstanding calligraphers emerged. Regular script(Kaishu 楷书) gradually took shape during this period, and running script(Xingshu 行书) and cursive script(Caoshu 草书) also reached a high level of artistic achievement. Calligraphers began to focus on the expression of personality and emotion, with calligraphic works showing diverse styles. At the same time, calligraphy theoretical works such as Book of Calligraphy（《书谱》） appeared, deeply discussing aspects such as brushwork, structure, and aesthetics of calligraphy, laying a solid theoretical foundation for the development of calligraphy in later generations.
Tang Dynasty（618 AD - 907 AD）: The Tang Dynasty can be regarded as the golden age of regular script, with many masters of regular script such as Ouyang Xun(557 AD - 641 AD), Yan Zhenqing (709 AD - 784 AD), and Liu Gongquan(778 AD - 865 AD), whose names are immortalized in history. Ouyang Xun's regular script has a rigorous structure and a dangerous pen force. His representative work, Jiucheng Palace Li Spring Inscription（《九成宫醴泉铭》）, is strict in rules and exquisite in strokes, regarded by later generations as a model of regular script. Yan Zhenqing's regular script is known for its grandeur and solemnity, and his works such as Yan Qinli Stele（《颜勤礼碑》） and Yan Family Temple Stele（《颜氏家庙碑》） display the prosperous atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty and his upright and unyielding personal charm. Liu Gongquan's regular script is vigorous and compact in structure, and his works such as Xuan Mi Tower Stele（《玄秘塔碑》） and Shen Cejun Stele（《神策军碑》） are also classic works in the history of calligraphy. The calligraphy of the Tang Dynasty not only prevailed domestically but also had a profound influence on neighboring countries, becoming a peak in the history of Chinese calligraphy.