The 5,000-year Chinese civilization and the unparalleled written records of it have been well accepted by the world. In the profound course of its development, the arts of Chinese calligraphy and painting, with their unique forms and language, have vividly represented historical process. Meanwhile, the two sisterly art forms have showcased the connotation of traditional Chinese culture. Since both Chinese calligraphy and painting employ the same tools and materials, they are often referred to as "of the same origin."

Chinese characters evolved from graphics and symbols, and the writing and development of the characters gave rise to the art of calligraphy. There were great calligraphers in each dynasty of Chinese history, whose calligraphic styles represented calligraphy in particular times. There are still a great many people from home and abroad fascinated by Chinese calligraphy of yesteryear and today.

Calligraphy looks simple. It seems as if anyone capable of writing Chinese characters on xuan paper (a high quality rice paper made for traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy) with a writing brush can become a calligrapher, which is in fact not true. Calligraphy is an art form involving a great deal of theoretical knowledge and requiring many skills. Therefore, there are not many calligraphers that have reached the highest realm of calligraphy.

Calligraphy is a constructive art. The calligrapher creates his work with his handling of the ink and the writing brush. The black strokes and white space on the paper create a sense of beauty. For calligraphers, the writing brush is the extension of their fingers: the rhythm and strength of their writings are all controlled by their moods, and their calligraphy works are expressions of their sensibilities. Calligraphy is an expressive art. In a work of calligraphy, we can see the character, education level and experience of the calligrapher. Calligraphy is a practical art form. It can be used to write inscriptions on paper or inscribe wooden plaques or stone tablets. Its many attributes show us that calligraphy is a comprehensive art, expressing the subjective feelings of the calligraphers.

Calligraphy manifests the basic characteristics of all Chinese arts. Just as architecture and sculpture are the basis of the other formative or visual arts in Western fine arts, calligraphy and painting are leaders of the other art forms in China. When calligraphy and painting are mentioned together, calligraphy always comes before painting, although calligraphy is closely associated with traditional Chinese painting. The theory about handling brush and ink are similar in both Chinese calligraphy and painting. Ancient Chinese sculpture was also influenced by calligraphy in that its defining characteristic lays in the composition of lines, and its decorative function is derived from the zhuanshu (seal characters) and lishu (official characters) in Chinese calligraphy. Chinese architecture adheres to the calligraphic rules of symmetry and balance, and the design of Chinese gardens, pavilions and temples all reflect the structural rules and rhythms of calligraphy. The development of Chinese handicrafts and folk arts are also influenced by calligraphy to some extent. Calligraphy is hence often hailed as the soul of Chinese fine arts.

Author: Jessie