What do the five forms of China's calligraphy mean?

Calligraphy is the artistic treasure of China. China's calligraphy styles are regular script, running script, cursive script, official script and seal script, which is what we call "five styles". Among them, regular script is divided into: European style, Yan style, Liu style and Chinese style; There are three kinds of cursive scripts: Cao Zhang, Cao Ling and Crazy Grass. Seal script is divided into big seal script and small seal script.

regular script

Regular script is also called official script, or real book. Its characteristics are: square shape, straight strokes, can be used as a model, hence the name. Began in the Eastern Han Dynasty. There are many famous regular script writers, such as Ou Ti (Ou Yangxun), Yu Ti (Yu Shinan), Yan Ti (Yan Zhenqing), Liu Ti (Liu Gongquan) and Zhao Ti (Zhao Mengfu).

Semi-cursive/running/calligraphy (China's calligraphy)

Running script is a font between regular script and cursive script, which can be said to be cursive script or cursive script. Running script into Wang Xizhi's hand perfectly combines practicality and artistry. As a result, the colorful southern calligraphy art has emerged and become the most influential school in the history of calligraphy.

cursive script

The cursive script is characterized by simple structure and continuous strokes. Formed in the Han Dynasty, it evolved on the basis of official script for the convenience of writing. There are Cao Zhang, Cao Jin and Crazy Grass.

official script

Official script is also called "official character" and "ancient book". It is a common solemn font in Chinese characters, with a slightly flat writing effect, long horizontal drawing and short straight drawing, and pays attention to "swallow tail of silkworm head" and "twists and turns". It originated in the Qin Dynasty and reached its peak in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Calligraphy is known as "Han Li Tang Kai". It is also said that official script originated in the Warring States period.

Seal character

Seal script is a general term for big seal script and small seal script. Dazhuan refers to Oracle Bone Inscriptions, Jinwen, Jinwen and Six Kingdoms, and retains the obvious features of ancient hieroglyphics. Xiao Zhuan, also known as "Qin Zhuan", is a commonly used character in Qin State and a simplified font of Da Zhuan, which is characterized by uniform and neat glyphs and is easier to write than Wen Shu. In the development history of Chinese characters, it is the transition between seal script and official script.