Lishu, also known as Zuo Shu, History Book and Eight-point History, is a font that breaks the inflectional structure of seal script and changes the shape of strokes to write. According to legend, this font was created by a man named Cheng Miao in Qin Dynasty, hence the name Li Shu.
In fact, according to the written materials that have been unearthed now, the official script had sprouted long before Qin Shihuang introduced Xiao Zhuan, and Cheng Miao just did some sorting and processing work.
Lishu was first used in Qin Dynasty and prevailed in Han Dynasty. It was the official script of Han Dynasty, and it was not replaced by regular script until Wei and Jin Dynasties. However, as a kind of calligraphy art, official script is unique and still loved by people. Throughout the ages, there were calligraphers who specialized in official script.
In the process of its evolution and development, Lishu has undergone considerable changes in style and style. In the early Qin dynasty, it can be said that it was a scribble writing method of seal script. The structure and pen used mostly had the meaning of seal script, with different lengths, flat shape and inconspicuous waves. This official script is called Qin Li.
At the beginning of Han Dynasty, Qin Li was inherited. Later, after continuous processing and beautification by intellectuals in Han Dynasty (especially in the Eastern Han Dynasty), a unique font with exquisite structure, particularly vigorous waves and outstanding posture was gradually formed. This official script is called Han Li. After the end of the Han dynasty, the shape changed from flat to square, and the waves changed implicitly, and evolved into regular script. Since the popularity of regular script, people often unconsciously bring out the meaning of regular script when writing official script again. As a typical font of an era, official script mainly refers to Han Li in its heyday.
From the perspective of calligraphy, there are three types of official script structure: one is tight inside and loose outside; Second, loose inside and tight outside; The third is to compromise between the first two.