The origin and development process of calligraphy is as follows:
1. The initial stage: oracle bone inscriptions, bronze inscriptions, and seal script (Shang and Zhou Dynasty).
2. Development stage: Xiaozhuan, official script, cursive script (Qin, Han, Three Kingdoms).
3. Mature stage: regular script and running script (Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties).
The order of development of calligraphy fonts is oracle bone script, seal script, official script, regular script, running script, and cursive script. The chronological order of production is seal script, official script, cursive script, regular script, and running script.
Xiaozhuan began in the Qin Dynasty. The font is slightly longer, the strokes are round and even, and the pattern is beautiful. Official script began in the Qin Dynasty, matured and became popular in the Han and Wei dynasties. The font is wide and flat, stretched left and right, balanced, symmetrical, neat and even.
Cursive script originated in the early Han Dynasty and matured in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The freehand brushwork is brought to the extreme, rich in changes and unrestrained. Regular script was formed in the Eastern Han Dynasty. The font is square and well-organized. Running script became popular in the Jin Dynasty. It has the advantages of both regular script and cursive script. It is both neat and clear, yet lively and lively.
Oracle bone inscriptions are the oldest mature script in the Chinese dynasty and belong to ancient Chinese. It appeared in the late Shang Dynasty of China from the 14th century BC to the 11th century BC.
Chinese calligraphy began with oracle bone inscriptions. As a type of calligraphy font, oracle bone inscriptions have the disadvantage of being difficult to identify and have completely lost their practicality, although they still have considerable artistic appreciation.
Bronze inscriptions refer to the inscriptions engraved on the bronzes of the Yin and Zhou dynasties, so they are also called bell and tripod inscriptions. Bronze ware is divided into two types: ritual vessels and musical instruments. The representative of the ritual vessel is the tripod, and the representative of the musical instrument is the bell. They were produced in the late Shang Dynasty of China, from 1300 BC to 1046 BC.
Seal script is the collective name for large seal script and small seal script. "Big Seal" mainly refers to "Bronze Inscriptions", "Zhen Wen", and "Local Inscriptions of the Six Kingdoms before the Unification of Qin", while "Small Seal Script" refers solely to Qin Seal Script after the unification of Qin. Large seal script, late Shang Dynasty in China, 1300 BC to 1046 BC, small seal script, Qin Yi Six Kingdoms, after 221 BC.
The official script is roughly divided into ancient official script and Han official script (including eight points). Ancient Li, 309 BC ~ 111 BC, Han Li, after 180 BC.
Official script is relative to seal script, and the name of official script originated from the Eastern Han Dynasty. The emergence of official script was another major reform of Chinese characters, which brought Chinese calligraphy art into a new realm and was a turning point in the history of the evolution of Chinese characters. According to legend, the official script was compiled by Cheng Miao in prison at the end of the Qin Dynasty. The complex was eliminated and simplified, the character shape was changed from round to square, and the strokes were changed from curved to straight.