The evolution trend of calligraphy is as follows:
1. Calligraphy is an ancient art of writing Chinese characters. It evolved from oracle bone inscriptions, stone drum inscriptions, and bronze inscriptions (Zhongding inscriptions) to large seal script, small seal script, From official script to cursive script, regular script, and running script that were finalized in the Eastern Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties, calligraphy has always exuded the charm of art. Chinese calligraphy is an original expression art created by the Han people. It is known as: wordless poetry, lineless dance, pictureless painting, and silent music. Shaoxing, China is a holy land of calligraphy, and the Lanting Award is the highest award for Chinese calligraphy art.
2. Calligraphy is a very unique visual art. Chinese characters are an important factor in Chinese calligraphy because Chinese calligraphy was produced and developed in Chinese culture, and Chinese characters are the basic elements of Han culture. one. Relying on Chinese characters is the main symbol that distinguishes Chinese calligraphy from other types of calligraphy. Although the art of calligraphy did not become conscious until the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the art of calligraphy originated at the same time as the formation of Chinese characters. The formation of Chinese characters has gone through a long historical period.
3. The information found so far about primitive Chinese characters is mainly the engraved symbols left on pottery from primitive society, but they are not writing yet, and they only played a role in triggering the emergence of primitive writing. The earliest ancient Chinese character materials in my country recognized by academic circles are oracle bone inscriptions and bronze inscriptions from the middle and late Shang Dynasty (approximately 14th to 11th century BC).
4. Oracle bone inscriptions were discovered in 1899 (the 25th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty). It is a text carved on turtle bones, animal bones, and human bones during the Yin and Shang Dynasties to record divination, sacrifices and other activities. Strictly speaking, only when it comes to oracle bone inscriptions can it be called calligraphy. Because oracle bone inscriptions already have the three basic elements of Chinese calligraphy: pen use, word knotting, and composition. However, not all previous pictorial symbols have these three elements.