(1) seal script: there was a big seal before the small seal. As early as more than 60 years ago, symbols carved on pottery and pictures depicting objects had the embryonic form of words, and then in the long development, hieroglyphics (pictures) were produced. Three thousand years ago, the characters carved on tortoise shell bones in Shang Dynasty, that is, "Oracle Bone Inscriptions" calligraphy, were thin and straight.
From the unearthed Oracle Bone Inscriptions, jade tablets and pottery tablets, we can get a glimpse of the characteristics of writing with brush at that time. Inscriptions cast on bronze wares such as bells, ding, money and weapons in Shang and Zhou Dynasties, called "Bronze inscriptions" or "Zhong Dingwen", became more and more neat and varied, and were carved on the reed in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.
In 22 1 BC, Qin Shihuang unified China, abolished six foreign languages and simplified the unified font, which was later called "Xiao Zhuan". The font is slightly long and neat, and the strokes are round and beautiful.
(2) Official script: It is said that official script was compiled by Cheng Miao who was not in the prison of Qin Dynasty. By eliminating complexity and simplifying, the font becomes round and square, and the strokes become straight. Changing "Lian Bi" into "broken pen" and changing lines into strokes will make it easier to write. This kind of writing is popular among "officials" (small officials at lower levels), so it is called official script. In the Han Dynasty, the foundation of regular script was laid. The structure of official script is flat, neat and exquisite. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, stippling was beautified as upward provocation to varying degrees, which enhanced the aesthetic feeling of the plastic arts of calligraphy, with diverse styles and greatly improved the artistic appreciation value.
(3) Regular script: Regular script, also known as "official script" and "original script", evolved from official script and became more simplified. The font is changed from flat to square, the strokes are simplified, horizontal and vertical, and it is characterized by regularity and neatness. Therefore, it is called regular script, which has been used ever since. Regular script prevailed in the Six Dynasties and flourished in the Tang Dynasty.
(4) Running script: Running script is a quick writing of regular script. It is said that it began in the Han Dynasty, and there was no neat regular script and no draft of cursive script. Regular script or running script close to regular script is called "running script", and cursive script or running script close to cursive script is called "running script".
(5) Cursive script: Cursive script is a kind of cursive script that connects characters with dots according to certain rules. The structure is simple, it can be borrowed and used at the same time, and it is not free to scribble. The feature of cursive script is that the artistic appreciation value is greater than the practical value. Generally speaking, it can be divided into two types: Cao Zhang and Cao Cao. Cao Zhang is a simple and quick writing style of official script, and each word is independent and unrelated. Cao Cao is a quick writing style of regular script, and the strokes between the upper and lower parts are often implicated.
Several representatives in italics:
Yan Zhenqing, the originator of Yan's calligraphy, started a new style of China's calligraphy with dignified regular script and vigorous calligraphy.
Regular script, which originated from ancient Li, is based on the style of two kings and the style of northern school in the Six Dynasties. They are unique in structure, unique in originality, authoritative and influential in society, and are the standard for learning books. Investigating the characteristics of regular script, the pen is strong and powerful, the strokes are neat and tidy, and the structure is cheerful and healthy. His representative works of regular script inscriptions include "Jiuchenggong Liquan Ming" and "Huadu Temple Monument".
Liu Gongquan, with clear pronunciation and mellow voice, was eager to learn from childhood and could write at the age of twelve. In the middle and late Tang Dynasty, he inherited Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy and created "Liu Ti", hence the name "Yan Gu".
Zhao Mengfu was an influential calligrapher in the early Yuan Dynasty. "Biography of the History of Yuan Dynasty" records: "Meng Yi's calligraphy is the best in the world, so the book is the theme of the world." Praise. According to Song Lian, a scholar, Zhao's calligraphy learned Lingling's Eight Intellectuals in his early years, Zhong You and Fairy in his middle years and books in his later years. In addition, he also visited Dingding Monument in Yuan and Wei Dynasties, Yu Shinan and Chu Suiliang in Tang Dynasty, which was a great achievement of predecessors.
Yu Shinan's regular script, elegant and graceful, inherited the legacy of the wise and brave Zen master and was the clique of the Wang school. Although it originated in Wei and Jin Dynasties, its softness on the outside and rigidity on the inside swept away the cowardice of Wei and Jin calligraphy style. His masterpiece in regular script is Confucius Temple Monument.
Chu Suiliang's regular script is famous for its sparseness and strength. Although he is the ancestor of the right army, he can win its charm. Its font structure seems very bold and unrestrained, but it can skillfully reconcile the quiet style and create an unprecedented situation. His masterpiece in regular script is Preface to the Sermon of Yanta.