Zhenshu refers to the transitional regular script from the Han and Wei dynasties to the Sui and Tang Dynasties.
In contemporary times, "regular script" is often called "real script" or "official script". In fact, in the long history of calligraphy, the three concepts have changed from time to time and have different connotations.
The term "zhenshu" appeared earlier. Before the Jin Dynasty, zhenshu was generally compared with official script. Before Zhong Yao established regular script, official script was also called "real script". This statement has been used for at least hundreds of years, until the Tang Dynasty.
The word "regular script" was earlier seen in Yang Xin's "Cai Gu Lai Ability to Write Names of People": "(Wei) Dan was named Zhongjiang, a native of Jingzhao, and was good at regular script!" Qi Gong believes that: This type of regular script It was only after the Jin Dynasty that adjectives were used as proper names for independent calligraphy styles.
The proposal of "real script" and "regular script" are basically consistent in terms of time, both appearing in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. However, "regular script" and "real script" have different meanings.
After the Tang and Song Dynasties, "regular script" officially became the proper name for what we call regular script. After the Northern Song Dynasty, "regular script" and "real script" basically had the same connotation. After the Ming Dynasty, the concept of "real script" was gradually replaced by "regular script".
The term "official book" appeared relatively late. Tang Lan said: "In ancient times, there were only regular scripts, without the name Zhengshu. Wang Sengqian boasted that Zhengshu was the best, so he had the name Zhengshu."
In the modern calligraphy world, "zhengshu" Infused with new connotations. Contemporary people stand on the basis of traditional calligraphy and define "official script": it is contradictory and opposite to cursive script. The concept of "formal script" tends to the broader "formal script", covering seal script, official script and regular script, corresponding to running script and cursive script...
From this, we can see that in different In historical periods, "real script", "regular script" and "official script" had slightly different connotations and each had its own emphasis. For ordinary people, the term "regular script" is sufficient. When using other words, pay attention to the connotation before using them. You should pay attention to this when studying!