The development order of China's calligraphy is: Oracle Bone Inscriptions → bronze inscription (Zhong Dingwen) → seal script (big seal script) → official script → cursive script → regular script → running script → printed style (Song style) → near style.
Font evolution order: official script-cursive script-running script-regular script.
Extended data:
oracle bone script
1, Introduction:
The oldest existing mature script in China belongs to ancient Chinese.
2. Year:
Late Shang Dynasty in China,14th century BC ~1century BC.
Based on the current data and research results, it is generally recognized that China's calligraphy began in Oracle Bone Inscriptions.
Oracle Bone Inscriptions, as a kind of calligraphy font, still has considerable artistic appreciation, but it is not easy to identify and has completely lost its practicality.
From the point of view of learning calligraphy, Oracle Bone Inscriptions belongs to the dead ancient script. At present, there are only about 2,500 characters that can and have been recognized in Oracle Bone Inscriptions, which obviously restricts the creation of calligraphy.
Because Oracle Bone Inscriptions is an ancient script, it can't be grafted and pieced together at will.
Therefore, Oracle Bone Inscriptions can only be the icing on the cake, but not as the subject of learning.
Ancient bronze inscriptions
1, Introduction:
Bronze inscriptions refer to the inscriptions carved on bronzes during the Yin and Zhou Dynasties, so they are also called Zhong Dingwen.
Among them, bronzes are divided into ritual vessels and musical instruments. The representative of the ritual vessel is the tripod, and the representative of the musical instrument is the clock.
2. Year:
Late Shang Dynasty in China, BC 1300 ~ BC 1046.
There are four kinds of inscriptions in Shang Dynasty, Western Zhou Dynasty, Eastern Zhou Dynasty and Qin and Han Dynasties, each with its own characteristics.
The production time of bronze inscriptions was roughly after that of Oracle Bone Inscriptions.
Different from Oracle Bone Inscriptions's exquisite brushwork, with many straight strokes, many twists and strokes, Jinwen's brushwork is fat and thick, with many curved strokes, which is relatively thicker and crazier. Because of the carrier, bronze inscriptions are relatively simple, correct and rich.
The reason why bronze inscriptions are listed separately is that with the demise of Shang Dynasty, Oracle Bone Inscriptions finally disappeared, and bronze inscriptions, as the main writing in Jizhou period, flourished until Qin and Han Dynasties.
It can be said that it connects the Oracle bones and enlightens the existence of Qin Zhuan.
The bronze inscription itself is also an ancient Chinese character. At present, there are about 1800 characters that can be recognized and have been recognized. Like Oracle Bone Inscriptions, it is also one of the styles that can no longer be created.
Seal character
1, Introduction:
Seal script is a general term for big seal script and small seal script.
Among them, "Da Zhuan" mainly refers to the inscriptions on bronze, "Wen Shu" and "the local characters of the six countries before the reunification of Qin", while "Xiao Zhuan" only refers to Qin Zhuan after the reunification of Qin.
"Dazhuan" is characterized by ancient Chinese characters, which are complex and rough. "Xiao Zhuan" is characterized by symmetry and neatness, which is relatively easy to write.
2. Year:
Da Zhuan, late Shang Dynasty in China, BC 1300 ~ BC 1046.
After 22 BC1year, Xiao zhuan and Qin state were combined.
Compared with the former Oracle Bone Inscriptions, Qin unified the six countries and the society was relatively stable.
Seal script, especially small seal script, has played a role in unifying the world's characters. This was done by Li Si, the prime minister of the Qin Dynasty. Representative works include Taishan Stone Carving, Yishan Monument and Langya Monument.
Of course, Li in the Tang Dynasty and Deng Dou in the Qing Dynasty are the masters of Xiao Zhuan, except Qin Lisi.
Because there are more characters in seal script than those in Oracle Bone Inscriptions and Jinwen, there is a certain room for study, so the room for study in seal script is far greater than the first two.
However, due to the limitation of structure and writing style, seal script has lost its practicality in daily life. At present, it only exists in calligraphy and seal cutting, or is used in individual shops.
official script
3. Introduction:
Roughly divided into Guli and Han Li (including eight points).
"Guli": It is characterized by the longitudinal trend and uneven longitudinal direction. There is still the style of seal script.
"Han Li": official script, broadly speaking, Han Li. It is characterized by removing the horizontal potential, highlighting the horizontal painting, and being horizontal and vertical.
4. Year:
Guli, 309 BC ~ BC 1 year.
Han Li, after 180 BC.
Official script is relative to seal script, and its name originated from the Eastern Han Dynasty. The appearance of official script is another great change of China characters, which brings China's calligraphy art into a new realm and is a turning point in the development history of Chinese characters.
According to legend, Li Shu was compiled by Cheng Miao in prison at the end of Qin Dynasty, which simplified traditional Chinese characters, rounded fonts and changed strokes into straight ones.
"Li Ben" is not a prisoner, but a small official, that is, a small official in charge of documents.
Official script is flat, neat and exquisite. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, the painting methods such as skimming, pressing and pointing were beautified as upward provocation, with different degrees of severity and artistic beauty of calligraphy. Styles also tend to be diversified, which is of great artistic appreciation value.